Synergistic Bacterial Compositions and Methods of Production and Use Thereof

ABSTRACT

Provided are therapeutic compositions containing Ecobiotic™ populations for prevention, treatment and reduction of symptoms associated with a dysbiosis of a mammalian subject such as a human.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/223,008, filed Dec. 17, 2018 (currently allowed), which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/359,439, filed Nov. 22, 2016 (abandoned), which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/592,481, filed Jan. 8, 2015 (now U.S. Pat. No. 9,533,014, issued on Jan. 3, 2017), which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/221,190, filed Mar. 20, 2014 (now U.S. Pat. No. 9,028,841, issued on May 12, 2015), which is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/091,201, filed on Nov. 26, 2013 (now U.S. Pat. No. 8,906,668, issued on Dec. 9, 2014), which is a continuation of International Application No. PCT/US2013/071758, filed on Nov. 25, 2013, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/729,518, filed Nov. 23, 2012, U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/729,519, filed Nov. 23, 2012, U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/729,520, filed Nov. 23, 2012, U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/729,521, filed Nov. 23, 2012, U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/729,522, filed Nov. 23, 2012, U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/729,524, filed Nov. 23, 2012, U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/729,515, filed Nov. 23, 2012, U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/729,517, filed Nov. 23, 2012, U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/729,525, filed Nov. 23, 2012, U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/729,526, filed Nov. 23, 2012, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/729,527, filed Nov. 23, 2012, all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety for all purposes.

REFERENCE TO A SEQUENCE LISTING SUBMITTED ELECTRONICALLY

The content of the electronically submitted sequence listing in ASCII text file (Name: 4268_024000I_Seglisting_ST25.txt; Size: 3,949,067 bytes; and Date of Creation: Dec. 14, 2020) filed with the application is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

INTRODUCTION

Mammals are colonized by microbes in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, on the skin, and in other epithelial and tissue niches such as the oral cavity, eye surface and vagina. The gastrointestinal tract harbors an abundant and diverse microbial community. It is a complex system, providing an environment or niche for a community of many different species or organisms, including diverse strains of bacteria. Hundreds of different species may form a commensal community in the GI tract in a healthy person, and this complement of organisms evolves from the time of birth to ultimately form a functionally mature microbial population by about 3 years of age. Interactions between microbial strains in these populations and between microbes and the host, e.g. the host immune system, shape the community structure, with availability of and competition for resources affecting the distribution of microbes. Such resources may be food, location and the availability of space to grow or a physical structure to which the microbe may attach. For example, host diet is involved in shaping the GI tract flora.

A healthy microbiota provides the host with multiple benefits, including colonization resistance to a broad spectrum of pathogens, essential nutrient biosynthesis and absorption, and immune stimulation that maintains a healthy gut epithelium and an appropriately controlled systemic immunity. In settings of ‘dysbiosis’ or disrupted symbiosis, microbiota functions can be lost or deranged, resulting in increased susceptibility to pathogens, altered metabolic profiles, or induction of proinflammatory signals that can result in local or systemic inflammation or autoimmunity. Thus, the intestinal microbiota plays a significant role in the pathogenesis of many diseases and disorders, including a variety of pathogenic infections of the gut. For instance, patients become more susceptible to pathogenic infections when the normal intestinal microbiota has been disturbed due to use of broad-spectrum antibiotics. Many of these diseases and disorders are chronic conditions that significantly decrease a patient's quality of life and can be ultimately fatal.

Fecal transplantation has been shown to be an effective treatment for patients suffering from severe or refractory GI infections by repopulating the gut with a diverse array of microbes that control key pathogens by creating an ecological environment inimical to their proliferation and survival. Such approaches have demonstrated significant potential to decrease host susceptibility to infection. Fecal transplantation, however, is considered to be a procedure of last resort because it has the potential to transmit infectious or allergenic agents between hosts, involves the transmission of potentially hundreds of unknown strains from donor to patient, and is difficult to perform on a mass scale. Additionally, fecal transplantation is inherently nonstandardized and different desired and/or undesired material may be transmitted in any given donation. Fecal transplantation is not approved by the FDA and is unlikely to gain approval since the product cannot be standardized and characterized according to regulatory requirements for identity, potency, purity and safety. Thus, there is a need for defined compositions that can be used to decrease susceptibility to infection and/or that facilitate restoration of a healthy gut microbiota.

Thus practitioners have a need for a much safer and reproducible treatment for disorders currently treated on an experimental (non-FDA approved) basis using fecal transplantation. In order to prepare a therapeutic with commercial potential, we have designed bacterial compositions of isolated bacterial strains with a plurality of beneficial properties based on our understanding of those bacterial strains and our analysis of the properties that would enhance the utility and commercialization of a bacterial composition.

Therefore, in response to the need for durable, efficient, and effective compositions and methods for treatment of GI diseases, in particular serious pathogenic infections, by way of restoring or enhancing microbiota functions, we address these and other shortcomings of the prior art by providing compositions and methods for treating patients.

SUMMARY

In one aspect, provided are compositions comprising an effective amount of a bacterial composition comprising at least a first type of isolated bacterium capable of forming a spore and a second type of isolated bacterium capable of forming a spore, wherein the first type and the second type are not identical, and wherein at least one of the first type and the second type are capable of decreasing and/or inhibiting the growth and/or colonization of at least one type of pathogenic bacteria. In an embodiment, the bacterial composition comprises at least about 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10 types of isolated bacteria. In an embodiment, the bacterial composition comprises at least about 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10 types of isolated bacteria and at least 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10 of the isolated bacteria are capable of forming spores. In an embodiment, the bacterial composition comprises at least about 5 types of isolated bacteria and at least 2 of the isolated bacteria are capable of forming spores. In an embodiment, the bacterial composition comprises: i) at least about 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30 or more types of isolated bacteria capable of forming spores, ii) at least about 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30 or more types of isolated bacteria not known to be capable of forming spores, or iii) any combination of i) and ii). In an embodiment, the first type and the second type are present in the composition in approximately equal concentrations. In an embodiment, the first type and the second type are present in the composition in not substantially equal concentrations. In an embodiment, the first type is present in the composition in at least about 150% the concentration of the second type, or wherein the second type is present in the composition in at least about 150% the concentration of the first type. In an embodiment, the composition consists essentially of: i) between two and about twenty types of isolated bacteria, wherein at least two types of isolated bacteria are independently capable of spore formation; ii) between two and about twenty types of isolated bacteria, wherein at least two types of isolated bacteria not known to be capable of spore formation, or iii) any combination of i) and ii). In an embodiment, the first type of isolated bacterium and the second type of isolated bacterium are selected from Table 1. In an embodiment, the first type of isolated bacterium and the second type of isolated bacterium comprise an operational taxonomic unit (OTU) distinction. In an embodiment, the OTU distinction comprises 16S rRNA sequence similarity below about 95% identity. In an embodiment, the first type of isolated bacterium and the second type of isolated bacterium independently comprise bacteria that comprise 16S rRNA sequence at least 95% identical to 16S rRNA sequence present in a bacterium selected from SEQ ID NOs.: 1-1,864. In an embodiment, a combination of the first type and the second type are: i) cytotoxic, ii) cytostatic, iii) capable of decreasing the growth of the pathogenic bacterium, iv) capable of inhibiting the growth of the pathogenic bacterium, v) capable of decreasing the colonization of the pathogenic bacterium, vi) capable of inhibiting the colonization of the pathogenic bacterium, or vii) any combination of i)-vi). In an embodiment, the combination is capable of inhibiting proliferation of the pathogenic bacteria present at a concentration at least equal to the concentration of the combination of the first type and the second type. In an embodiment, the combination is capable of inhibiting proliferation of the pathogenic bacterial present at a concentration at least about twice the concentration of the combination of the first type and the second type. In an embodiment, the combination is capable of inhibiting proliferation of the pathogenic bacterial present at a concentration at least about ten times the concentration of the combination of the first type and the second type. In an embodiment, the pathogenic bacterium is selected from the group consisting of Yersinia, Vibrio, Treponema, Streptococcus, Staphylococcus, Shigella, Salmonella, Rickettsia, Orientia, Pseudomonas, Neisseria, Mycoplasma, Mycobacterium, Listeria, Leptospira, Legionella, Klebsiella, Helicobacter, Haemophilus, Francisella, Escherichia, Ehrlichia, Enterococcus, Coxiella, Corynebacterium, Clostridium, Chlamydia, Chlamydophila, Campylobacter, Burkholderia, Brucella, Borrelia, Bordetella, Bifidobacterium, Bacillus, multi-drug resistant bacteria, Carbapenem-resistent Enterobacteriaceae (CRE), extended spectrum beta-lactam resistant Enterococci (ESBL), and vancomycin-resistant Enterococci (VRE). In an embodiment, the first type and the second type synergistically interact. In an embodiment, the first type and the second type synergistically interact to inhibit the pathogenic bacterium.

In another aspect, provided are compositions comprising an effective amount of a bacterial composition comprising at least a first type of isolated bacterium and a second type of isolated bacterium, wherein only one of the first type and the second type are capable of forming a spore, and wherein at least one of the first type and the second type are capable of decreasing the growth and/or colonization of at least one type of pathogenic bacteria.

In another aspect, provided are compositions comprising an effective amount of a bacterial composition comprising at least a first type of isolated bacterium and a second type of isolated bacterium, wherein the first type and the second type are not spores or known to be capable of forming a spore, and wherein at least one of the first type and the second type are capable of decreasing the growth and/or colonization of at least one type of pathogenic bacteria.

In an embodiment, at least one of the first type and the second type are capable of reducing the growth rate of at least one type of pathogenic bacteria. In an embodiment, at least one of the first type and the second type are cytotoxic to at least one type of pathogenic bacteria. In an embodiment, at least one of the first type and the second type are cytostatic to at least one type of pathogenic bacteria. In an embodiment, the first type and the second type are selected from Table 1. In an embodiment, the first type and the second type comprise different species. In an embodiment, the first type and the second type comprise different genera. In an embodiment, the first type and the second type comprise different families. In an embodiment, the first type and the second type comprise different orders.

In another aspect, provided are compositions comprising an effective amount of a bacterial composition comprising at least a first type of isolated bacterium and a second type of isolated bacterium, wherein: i) the first type and the second type are independently capable of forming a spore; ii) only one of the first type and the second type are capable of forming a spore or iii) neither the first type nor the second type are capable of forming a spore, wherein the first type and the second type are not identical, wherein the first type and the second type are capable of functionally populating the gastrointestinal tract of a human subject to whom the composition is administered. In an embodiment, the functional populating of the gastrointestinal tract comprises preventing a dysbiosis of the gastrointestinal tract. In an embodiment, the functional populating of the gastrointestinal tract comprises treating a dysbiosis of the gastrointestinal tract. In an embodiment, the functional populating of the gastrointestinal tract comprises reducing the severity of a dysbiosis of the gastrointestinal tract. In an embodiment, the functional populating of the gastrointestinal tract comprises reducing one or more symptoms of a dysbiosis of the gastrointestinal tract. In an embodiment, the functional populating of the gastrointestinal tract comprises preventing growth and/or colonization of the gastrointestinal tract by a pathogenic bacterium. In an embodiment, the functional populating of the gastrointestinal tract comprises reducing growth and/or colonization of the gastrointestinal tract by a pathogenic bacterium. In an embodiment, the functional populating of the gastrointestinal tract comprises reducing the number of one or more types of pathogenic bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract. In an embodiment, the functional populating of the gastrointestinal tract comprises increasing the number of one or more non-pathogenic bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract. In an embodiment, the bacterial composition comprises 0, 1, 2, 3 or greater than 3 types of isolated bacteria capable of forming spores. In an embodiment, the bacterial composition comprises at least about 5 types of isolated bacteria capable of forming spores. In an embodiment, the bacterial composition comprises at least about 7 types of isolated bacteria capable of forming spores. In an embodiment, the first type and the second type are present in the composition in not substantially equal concentrations. In an embodiment, the first type and the second type are present in the composition in approximately equal concentrations. In an embodiment, the first type is present in the composition in at least about 150% the concentration of the second type. In an embodiment, the second type is present in the composition in at least about 150% the concentration of the first type. In an embodiment, the composition consists essentially of between two and about ten types of isolated bacteria, wherein at least one type of isolated bacteria are independently capable of spore formation. In an embodiment, the first type of isolated bacterium and the second type of isolated bacterium are selected from Table 1. In an embodiment, the first type of isolated bacterium and the second type of isolated bacterium comprise an operational taxonomic unit (OTU) distinction. In an embodiment, the OTU distinction comprises 16S rRNA sequence similarity below about 95% identity. In an embodiment, the first type of isolated bacterium and the second type of isolated bacterium independently comprise bacteria that comprise 16S rRNA sequence at least 95% identical to 16S rRNA sequence present in a bacterium selected from Table 3. In an embodiment, a combination of the first type and the second type are cytotoxic or cytostatic to the pathogenic bacterium. In an embodiment, the combination is capable of inhibiting proliferation of the pathogenic bacteria present at a concentration at least equal to the concentration of the combination of the first type and the second type. In an embodiment, the combination is capable of inhibiting proliferation of the pathogenic bacterial present at a concentration at least about twice the concentration of the combination of the first type and the second type. In an embodiment, the combination is capable of inhibiting proliferation of the pathogenic bacteria present at a concentration at least about ten times the concentration of the combination of the first type and the second type. In an embodiment, the pathogenic bacterium is selected from the group consisting of Yersinia, Vibrio, Treponema, Streptococcus, Staphylococcus, Shigella, Salmonella, Rickettsia, Orientia, Pseudomonas, Neisseria, Mycoplasma, Mycobacterium, Listeria, Leptospira, Legionella, Klebsiella, Helicobacter, Haemophilus, Francisella, Escherichia, Ehrlichia, Enterococcus, Coxiella, Corynebacterium, Clostridium, Chlamydia, Chlamydophila, Campylobacter, Burkholderia, Brucella, Borrelia, Bordetella, Bifidobacterium, Bacillus, multi-drug resistant bacteria, Carbapenem-resistent Enterobacteriaceae (CRE), extended spectrum beta-lactam resistant Enterococci (ESBL), and vancomycin-resistant Enterococci (VRE). In an embodiment, the first type and the second type synergistically interact to be cytotoxic to the pathogenic bacterium. In an embodiment, wherein the first type and the second type synergistically interact to be cytostatic to the pathogenic bacterium.

In another aspect, provided are single dose units comprising the compositions of the present invention. In an embodiment, the dose unit comprises at least 1×10⁴, 1×10⁵, 1×10⁶, 1×10⁷, 1×10⁸, 1×10⁹, 1×10¹⁰, 1×10¹¹ or greater than 1×10¹¹ colony forming units (CFUs) of either spores or vegetative bacterial cells. In an embodiment, the dose unit comprises a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient, an enteric coating or a combination thereof. In an embodiment, the dose unit further comprises a drug selected from corticosteroids, mesalazine, mesalamine, sulfasalazine, sulfasalazine derivatives, immunosuppressive drugs, cyclosporin A, mercaptopurine, azathiopurine, prednisone, methotrexate, antihistamines, glucocorticoids, epinephrine, theophylline, cromolyn sodium, anti-leukotrienes, anti-cholinergic drugs for rhinitis, anti-cholinergic decongestants, mast-cell stabilizers, monoclonal anti-IgE antibodies, vaccines, and combinations thereof. In an embodiment, the dose unit is formulated for oral administration, rectal administration, or the combination of oral and rectal administration, or is formulated for topical, nasal or inhalation administration.

In another aspect, provided are kits comprising in one or more containers: a first purified population of a first type of bacterial spores substantially free of viable vegetal bacterial cells; and a second purified population of a second type of bacterial spores substantially free of viable vegetal bacterial cells, wherein the first type and the second type of bacterial spores are not identical, and wherein the first type and the second type of bacterial spores, when co-localized in a target region of a gastrointestinal tract of a human subject in need thereof, are capable of functionally populating the gastrointestinal tract. In an embodiment, the first purified population and the second purified population are present in a single container. In an embodiment, the first purified population and the second purified population are present in two containers. In an embodiment, the first purified population and the second purified population are lyophilized or substantially dehydrated. In an embodiment, the kit further comprises in one or more containers an effective amount of an anti-bacterial agent, an effective amount of an anti-viral agent, an effective amount of an anti-fungal agent, an effective amount of an anti-parasitic agent, or a combination thereof in one or more containers. In an embodiment, the kit further comprises a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient or diluent.

Also provided are pharmaceutical formulations comprising an effective amount of the compositions of the invention, and further comprising an effective amount of an anti-bacterial agent, an effective amount of an anti-fungal agent, an effective amount of an anti-viral agent, an effective amount of an anti-parasitic agent.

Also provided are comestible products comprising a first purified population of a first type of bacterial spores and a second purified population of a second type of bacterial spores, wherein the first type and the second type of bacterial spores are not identical, wherein the comestible product is substantially free of viable vegetal bacterial cells, and wherein the first type and the second type of bacterial spores, when administered to a human subject in need thereof, are capable of functionally populating the gastrointestinal tract of the human subject. In an embodiment, the comestible product comprises a food or food additive, a beverage or beverage additive, or a medical food. In an embodiment, the comestible product comprises at least 1×10⁴, 1×10⁵, 1×10⁶, 1×10⁷, 1×10⁸, 1×10⁹, 1×10¹⁰, 1×10¹¹ or greater than 1×10¹¹ colony forming units (CFUs) of viable spores. In an embodiment, the comestible product comprises a first type of bacterial spores and a second type of bacterial spores selected from Table 1, or where the first type of bacterial spores and the second type of bacterial spores independently comprise bacterial spores that comprise 16S rRNA sequence at least 95% identical to 16S rRNA sequence present in a bacterium selected from SEQ ID NOs.: 1-1,864.

Also provided are methods comprising administering to a human subject in need thereof an effective amount of a bacterial composition comprising at least a first type of isolated bacterium and a second type of isolated bacterium, wherein: the first type and the second type are independently capable of forming a spore; only one of the first type and the second type are capable of forming a spore or neither the first type nor the second type are capable of forming a spore, wherein the first type and the second type are not identical, and wherein at least one of the first type and the second type exert an inhibitory-effect on a pathogenic bacterium present in the gastrointestinal tract of the human subject, such that the number of pathogenic bacteria present in the gastrointestinal tract is not detectably increased or is detectably decreased over a period of time. In an embodiment, the human subject is diagnosed as having a dysbiosis of the gastrointestinal tract. In an embodiment, wherein the human subject is diagnosed as infected with a pathogenic bacterium selected from the group consisting of Yersinia, Vibrio, Treponema, Streptococcus, Staphylococcus, Shigella, Salmonella, Rickettsia, Orientia, Pseudomonas, Neisseria, Mycoplasma, Mycobacterium, Listeria, Leptospira, Legionella, Klebsiella, Helicobacter, Haemophilus, Francisella, Escherichia, Ehrlichia, Enterococcus, Coxiella, Corynebacterium, Clostridium, Chlamydia, Chlamydophila, Campylobacter, Burkholderia, Brucella, Borrelia, Bordetella, Bifidobacterium, Bacillus, multi-drug resistant bacteria, Carbapenem-resistent Enterobacteriaceae (CRE), extended spectrum beta-lactam resistant Enterococci (ESBL), and vancomycin-resistant Enterococci (VRE). In an embodiment, the bacterial composition is administered simultaneously with i) an antibiotic, ii) a prebiotic, or iii) a combination of i) and ii). In an embodiment, the bacterial composition is administered prior to administration of i) an antibiotic, ii) a prebiotic, or iii) a combination of i) and ii). In an embodiment, the bacterial composition is administered subsequent to administration of i) an antibiotic, ii) a prebiotic, or iii) a combination of i) and ii). In an embodiment, the number of pathogenic bacterium present in or excreted from the gastrointestinal tract of the human subject is detectably reduced within one month, within two weeks, or within one week of administration of the bacterial composition. In an embodiment, the number of pathogenic bacterium present in or excreted from the gastrointestinal tract of the human subject is detectably reduced within three days, two days or one day of administration of the bacterial composition. In an embodiment, the human subject is detectably free of the pathogenic bacterium within one month, two weeks, one week, three days or one day of administration of the bacterial composition. In an embodiment, the bacterial composition comprises at least about 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10 types of isolated bacteria. In an embodiment, the bacterial composition comprises at least about 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10 types of isolated bacteria and at least 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10 of the isolated bacteria are capable of forming spores. In an embodiment, the bacterial composition comprises at least about 5 types of isolated bacteria and at least 2 of the isolated bacteria are capable of forming spores. In an embodiment, the bacterial composition comprises: i) at least about 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30 or more types of isolated bacteria capable of forming spores, ii) at least about 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30 or more types of isolated bacteria not known to be capable of forming spores, or iii) any combination of i) and ii). In an embodiment, the bacterial composition comprises at least about 5 types of isolated bacteria and at least 1 of the isolated bacteria are capable of forming spores. In an embodiment, the bacterial composition comprises at least about 5 types of isolated bacteria and at least 1 of the isolated bacteria is not capable of forming spores. In an embodiment, the bacterial composition comprises at least about 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10 types of isolated bacteria, wherein i) at least 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10 types of isolated bacteria are capable of forming spores, ii) at least 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10 types of isolated bacteria are not capable of forming spores, or iii) any combination of i) and ii). In an embodiment, the first type and the second type are present in the composition in approximately equal concentrations. In an embodiment, the first type and the second type are present in the composition in not substantially equal concentrations. In an embodiment, the first type is present in the composition in at least about 150% the concentration of the second type, or wherein the second type is present in the composition in at least about 150% the concentration of the first type. In an embodiment, the composition consists essentially of between two and about ten types of isolated bacteria, wherein at least two types of isolated bacteria are independently capable of spore formation. In an embodiment, the composition consists essentially of between two and about ten types of isolated bacteria, wherein at least two types of isolated bacteria are not capable of spore formation. In an embodiment, the first type of isolated bacterium and the second type of isolated bacterium are selected from Table 1. In an embodiment, the first type of isolated bacterium and the second type of isolated bacterium comprise an operational taxonomic unit (OTU) distinction. In an embodiment, the OTU distinction comprises 16S rRNA sequence similarity below about 95% identity. In an embodiment, the first type of isolated bacterium and the second type of isolated bacterium independently comprise bacteria that comprise 16S rRNA sequence at least 95% identical to 16S rRNA sequence present in a bacterium selected from SEQ ID NOs: 1-1,864. In an embodiment, a combination of the first type and the second type are cytotoxic or cytostatic to the pathogenic bacterium. In an embodiment, the combination is capable of inhibiting proliferation of the pathogenic bacterial present at a concentration at least equal to the concentration of the combination of the first type and the second type. In an embodiment, the combination is capable of inhibiting proliferation of the pathogenic bacterial present at a concentration at least about twice the concentration of the combination of the first type and the second type. In an embodiment, the combination is capable of inhibiting proliferation of the pathogenic bacterial present at a concentration at least about ten times the concentration of the combination of the first type and the second type. In an embodiment, the pathogenic bacterium is selected from the group consisting of Yersinia, Vibrio, Treponema, Streptococcus, Staphylococcus, Shigella, Salmonella, Rickettsia, Orientia, Pseudomonas, Neisseria, Mycoplasma, Mycobacterium, Listeria, Leptospira, Legionella, Klebsiella, Helicobacter, Haemophilus, Francisella, Escherichia, Ehrlichia, Enterococcus, Coxiella, Corynebacterium, Clostridium, Chlamydia, Chlamydophila, Campylobacter, Burkholderia, Brucella, Borrelia, Bordetella, Bifidobacterium, Bacillus, multi-drug resistant bacteria, Carbapenem-resistent Enterobacteriaceae (CRE), extended spectrum beta-lactam resistant Enterococci (ESBL), and vancomycin-resistant Enterococci (VRE). In an embodiment, the first type and the second type synergistically interact to be cytotoxic to the pathogenic bacterium. In an embodiment, the first type and the second type synergistically interact to be cytostatic to the pathogenic bacterium.

Also provided are methods of functionally populating the gastrointestinal tract of a human subject, comprising administering to the subject an effective amount of a bacterial composition comprising at least a first type of isolated bacterium and a second type of isolated bacterium, wherein i) the first type and the second type are independently capable of forming a spore; ii) only one of the first type and the second type are capable of forming a spore or iii) neither the first type nor the second type are capable of forming a spore, wherein the first type and the second type are not identical, under conditions such that the first type and the second type functionally populate the gastrointestinal tract of the human subject. In an embodiment, the bacterial composition is orally administered, rectally administered, or the combination of orally and rectally administered. In an embodiment, the bacterial composition is topically or nasally administered or inhaled. In an embodiment, the first type of isolated bacteria and the second type of isolated bacteria are selected from Table 1. In an embodiment, the bacterial composition consists essentially of spores, wherein the spores comprise spores of the first type of isolated bacteria and spores of the second type of isolated bacteria. In an embodiment, the first type of isolated bacteria and the second type of isolated bacteria independently comprise bacterial spores that comprise 16S rRNA sequence at least 95% identical to 16S rRNA sequence present in a bacterium selected from SEQ ID NOs. 1-1,864. In an embodiment, the functional populating of the gastrointestinal tract comprises preventing a dysbiosis of the gastrointestinal tract. In an embodiment, the functional populating of the gastrointestinal tract comprises treating a dysbiosis of the gastrointestinal tract. In an embodiment, the functional populating of the gastrointestinal tract comprises reducing the severity of a dysbiosis of the gastrointestinal tract. In an embodiment, the functional populating of the gastrointestinal tract comprises reducing one or more symptoms of a dysbiosis of the gastrointestinal tract. In an embodiment, the functional populating of the gastrointestinal tract comprises preventing colonization of the gastrointestinal tract by a pathogenic bacterium. In an embodiment, the functional populating of the gastrointestinal tract comprises reducing colonization of the gastrointestinal tract and/or growth by a pathogenic bacterium. In an embodiment, wherein the functional populating of the gastrointestinal tract comprises reducing the number of one or more types of pathogenic bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract. In an embodiment, the functional populating of the gastrointestinal tract comprises increasing the number of one or more non-pathogenic bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract. In an embodiment, the bacterial composition comprises at least about 3, 5, 7 or 9 types of isolated bacteria capable of forming spores. In an embodiment, the bacterial composition comprises at least about 5 types of isolated bacteria and at least 20% of the isolated bacteria are capable of forming spores. In an embodiment, the bacterial composition comprises at least about 5 types of isolated bacteria and at least 2 of the isolated bacteria are capable of forming spores. In an embodiment, the bacterial composition comprises at least about 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10 types of isolated bacteria, wherein i) at least 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10 types of isolated bacteria are capable of forming spores, ii) at least 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10 types of isolated bacteria are not capable of forming spores, or iii) any combination of i) and ii). In an embodiment, the first type and the second type are present in the composition in approximately equal concentrations. In an embodiment, the first type and the second type are present in the composition in not substantially equal concentrations. In an embodiment, the first type is present in the composition in at least about 150% the concentration of the second type, or wherein the second type is present in the composition in at least about 150% the concentration of the first type. In an embodiment, the composition consists essentially of between two and about ten types of isolated bacteria, wherein i) at least one type of isolated bacteria is capable of spore formation, ii) at least one type of isolated bacteria is not capable of spore formation, or iii) a combination of i) and ii). In an embodiment, a combination of the first type and the second type are inhibitory to the pathogenic bacterium. In an embodiment, the combination reduces the growth rate of the pathogenic bacterium. In an embodiment, the combination is cytostatic or cytotoxic to the pathogenic bacterium. In an embodiment, the combination is capable of inhibiting growth of the pathogenic bacterial present at a concentration at least equal to the concentration of the combination of the first type and the second type. In an embodiment, the combination is capable of inhibiting growth of the pathogenic bacterial present at a concentration at least about twice the concentration of the combination of the first type and the second type. In an embodiment, the combination is capable of inhibiting proliferation of the pathogenic bacterial present at a concentration at least about ten times the concentration of the combination of the first type and the second type. In an embodiment, the pathogenic bacterium is selected from the group consisting of Yersinia, Vibrio, Treponema, Streptococcus, Staphylococcus, Shigella, Salmonella, Rickettsia, Orientia, Pseudomonas, Neisseria, Mycoplasma, Mycobacterium, Listeria, Leptospira, Legionella, Klebsiella, Helicobacter, Haemophilus, Francisella, Escherichia, Ehrlichia, Enterococcus, Coxiella, Corynebacterium, Clostridium, Chlamydia, Chlamydophila, Campylobacter, Burkholderia, Brucella, Borrelia, Bordetella, Bifidobacterium, Bacillus, multi-drug resistant bacteria, Carbapenem-resistent Enterobacteriaceae (CRE), extended spectrum beta-lactam resistant Enterococci (ESBL), and vancomycin-resistant Enterococci (VRE). In an embodiment, the first type and the second type synergistically interact to reduce or inhibit the growth of the pathogenic bacterium. In an embodiment, the first type and the second type synergistically interact to reduce or inhibit the colonization of the pathogenic bacterium. In an embodiment, the method comprises administering to the human subject a single dose unit comprising at least 1×10⁴, 1×10⁵, 1×10⁶, 1×10⁷, 1×10⁸, 1×10⁹, 1×10¹⁰, 1×10¹¹ or greater than 1×10¹¹ colony forming units (CFUs) of viable bacteria. In an embodiment, the dose unit comprises a bacterial population substantially in the form of spores. In an embodiment, the dose unit comprises a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient and/or an enteric coating. In an embodiment, the unit dose is formulated for oral administration, rectal administration, or the combination of oral and rectal administration. In an embodiment, the unit dose is formulated for topical or nasal administration or for inhalation.

In another aspect, provided are methods of reducing the number of pathogenic bacteria present in the gastrointestinal tract of a human subject, comprising administering to the subject an effective amount of a pharmaceutical formulation comprising an effective amount of the composition of claim 1 and further comprising an effective amount of an anti-microbial agent, under conditions such that the number of pathogenic bacteria present in the gastrointestinal tract of the human subject is reduced within about one month of administration of the pharmaceutical formulation. In an embodiment, the number of pathogenic bacteria present in the gastrointestinal tract of the human subject is reduced within about two weeks of administration of the pharmaceutical formulation. In an embodiment, the number of pathogenic bacteria present in the gastrointestinal tract of the human subject is reduced within about one week of administration of the pharmaceutical formulation. In an embodiment, the number of pathogenic bacteria present in the gastrointestinal tract of the human subject is reduced within about three days of administration of the pharmaceutical formulation. In an embodiment, the number of pathogenic bacteria present in the gastrointestinal tract of the human subject is reduced within about one day of administration of the pharmaceutical formulation. In an embodiment, the anti-microbial agent comprises anti-bacterial agent. In an embodiment, the anti-microbial agent comprises anti-fungal agent. In an embodiment, the anti-microbial agent comprises anti-viral agent. In an embodiment, the anti-microbial agent comprises anti-parasitic agent.

In another aspect, provided are methods of preparing a comestible product, comprising combining with a comestible carrier a first purified population comprising at least a first type of isolated bacterium and a second purified population comprising at least a second type of isolated bacterium, wherein: i) the first type and the second type are independently capable of forming a spore; ii) only one of the first type and the second type are capable of forming a spore or iii) neither the first type nor the second type are capable of forming a spore, wherein the first type and the second type of bacteria are not identical, wherein the comestible product is substantially free of non-comestible materials. In an embodiment, at least one of the first purified population and the second purified population consist essentially of viable spores. In an embodiment, the first purified population and the second purified population consist essentially of viable spores. In an embodiment, the comestible product is substantially free of viable vegetal bacterial cells. In an embodiment, the viable spores, when the comestible product is consumed by a human subject in need thereof, are capable of functionally populating the gastrointestinal tract of the human subject. In an embodiment, the comestible product comprises a food or food additive. In an embodiment, the comestible product comprises a beverage or beverage additive. In an embodiment, the comestible product comprises a medical food. In an embodiment, the comestible product comprises at least 1×10⁴, 1×10⁵, 1×10⁶, 1×10⁷, 1×10⁸, 1×10⁹, 1×10¹⁰, 1×10¹¹ or greater than 1×10¹¹ colony forming units (CFUs) of viable spores. In an embodiment, spores are of a bacterium selected from Table 1. In an embodiment, the first purified population and the second purified population independently comprise bacterial spores that comprise 16S rRNA sequence at least 95% identical to 16S rRNA sequence present in a bacterium selected from SEQ ID NOs: 1-1,864.

Also provided are methods of reducing the abundance of a pathogen in the gastrointestinal tract of a patient comprising administering the composition of the invention in a therapeutically effective amount and allowing the bacterial composition to compete with the pathogen in the gastrointestinal tract of a patient.

Further provided are methods of treating diarrhea comprising administering the composition of the invention in a therapeutically effective amount and allowing the bacterial composition to reduce the diarrheal effect of a pathogen in the gastrointestinal tract of a patient. In an embodiment, the pathogen is Aeromonas hydrophila, Campylobacter fetus, Plesiomonas shigelloides, Bacillus cereus, Campylobacter jejuni, Clostridium botulinum, Clostridium difficile, Clostridium perfringens, enteroaggregative Escherichia coli, enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli, enteroinvasive Escherichia coli, enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (LT or ST), Escherichia coli O157:H7, Helicobacter pylori, Lysteria monocytogenes, Plesiomonas shigelloides, Salmonella spp., Salmonella typhi, Shigella spp., Staphylococcus spp., Staphylococcus aureus, Vibrio spp., Vibrio cholerae, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Vibrio vulnificus, Yersinia enterocolitica, multi-drug resistant bacteria, Carbapenem-resistent Enterobacteriaceae (CRE), and vancomycin-resistant Enterococci (VRE). In an embodiment, the pathogen is Clostridium difficile, Salmonella spp., pathogenic Escherichia coli, or vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus spp. In an embodiment, the pathogen is Clostridium difficile. In an embodiment, the composition is administered orally.

Also provided are therapeutic compositions comprising a first purified bacterial population capable forming spores consisting of Collinsella aerofaciens and a second purified bacterial population consisting of a species selected from Table 1 or SEQ ID NOs: 1,865-1,915, wherein at least one of the first type and the second type are cytotoxic or cytostatic to a pathogenic bacterium. In an embodiment, a synergistic combination of the first bacterial spore population and the second bacterial spore population are cytotoxic or cytostatic to the pathogenic bacterium. In an embodiment, the combination is capable of inhibiting proliferation of the pathogenic bacterial present at a concentration at least equal to the concentration of the combination of the first type and the second type. In an embodiment, the combination is capable of inhibiting proliferation of the pathogenic bacterial present at a concentration at least about twice the concentration of the combination of the first type and the second type. In an embodiment, the combination is capable of inhibiting proliferation of the pathogenic bacterial present at a concentration at least about ten times the concentration of the combination of the first type and the second type. In an embodiment, the pathogenic bacterium is selected from the group consisting of Yersinia, Vibrio, Treponema, Streptococcus, Staphylococcus, Shigella, Salmonella, Rickettsia, Pseudomonas, Neisseria, Mycoplasma, Mycobacterium, Listeria, Leptospira, Legionella, Helicobacter, Haemophilus, Francisella, Escherichia, Enterococcus, Corynebacterium, Clostridium, Chlamydia, Chlamydophila, Campylobacter, Brucella, Borrelia, and Bordetella. In an embodiment, the pathogenic bacterium is Clostridium dificile. In an embodiment, the first bacterial spore population and the second bacterial spore population synergistically interact to be cytotoxic to the pathogenic bacterium. In an embodiment, the first bacterial spore population and the second bacterial spore population synergistically interact to be cytostatic to the pathogenic bacterium. In an embodiment, the bacterial composition comprises at least about 3 types of isolated bacteria capable of forming spores. In an embodiment, the bacterial composition comprises at least about 5 types of isolated bacteria capable of forming spores. In an embodiment, the first bacterial spore population and the second bacterial spore population are present in the composition in approximately equal concentrations. In an embodiment, the composition consists essentially of between two and about ten bacterial spore populations of isolated bacteria.

In another aspect, provided are therapeutic compositions comprising a first purified bacterial spore population consisting of bacteria comprising 16S rRNA sequence at least about 97% identical to a 16S rRNA sequence present in a reference Collinsella aerofaciens OTU, and a second purified bacterial spore population consisting of bacteria comprising 16S rRNA sequence at least about 97% identical to a 16S rRNA sequence present in a reference bacterium listed in Table 1 or SEQ ID NOs: 1,865-1,915, wherein at least one of the first type and the second type are cytotoxic or cytostatic to a pathogenic bacterium. In an embodiment, a synergistic combination of the first type and the second type are cytotoxic or cytostatic to the pathogenic bacterium. In an embodiment, wherein the combination is capable of inhibiting proliferation of the pathogenic bacterial present at a concentration at least equal to the concentration of the combination of the first type and the second type. In an embodiment, the first type and the second type synergistically interact to be cytotoxic or cytostatic to the pathogenic bacterium. In an embodiment, the first purified bacterial spore population and the second purified bacterial spore population are capable of functionally populating the gastrointestinal tract of a human subject to whom the composition is administered. In an embodiment, the functional populating of the gastrointestinal tract comprises preventing, treating, reducing the severity of or reducing a symptom of a dysbiosis of the gastrointestinal tract. In an embodiment, the functional populating of the gastrointestinal tract comprises i) reducing the number of one or more types of pathogenic bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract; or ii) increasing the number of one or more non-pathogenic bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract. In an embodiment, the composition further comprises an effective amount of an anti-bacterial agent, an anti-fungal agent, an anti-viral agent or an anti-parasitic agent.

Also provided are methods of treating or preventing a recurrence of a Clostridium difficile infection, comprising administering to a human subject in need thereof an effective amount of the therapeutic composition of the invention under conditions such that the first purified bacterial spore population and the second purified bacterial spore population exert a cytotoxic or cytostatic effect on a pathogenic bacterium present in the gastrointestinal tract of the human subject, such that the number of Clostridium difficile bacteria present in the gastrointestinal tract is not detectably increased or is detectably decreased over a period of time. In an embodiment, the number of Clostridium difficile bacteria present in or excreted from the gastrointestinal tract of the human subject is detectably reduced within one month of administration of the bacterial composition. In an embodiment, the first purified bacterial spore population and the second purified bacterial spore population synergistically interact to be cytotoxic and/or cytostatic to the Clostridium difficile bacteria. In an embodiment, the therapeutic composition is orally administered. In an embodiment, the therapeutic composition comprises a medical food.

In another aspect, provided are kits comprising in one or more containers: a first purified population of a first type of bacteria capable of forming spores; and a second purified population of a second type of bacteria capable of forming spores, wherein the first type and the second type are not identical, and wherein the first type and the second type, when co-localized in a target region of a gastrointestinal tract of a human subject in need thereof, are capable of functionally populating the gastrointestinal tract. In an embodiment, the first purified population and the second purified population are present in a single container. In an embodiment, the kit is formulated for use as a nutritional supplement and optionally comprising a prebiotic material.

Additional objects and advantages will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the embodiments. The objects and advantages will be realized and attained by means of the elements and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the claims.

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate several embodiments and together with the description, serve to further explain the embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A provides a schematic of 16S rRNA gene and denotes the coordinates of hypervariable regions 1-9 (V1-V9). Coordinates of V1-V9 are 69-99, 137-242, 433-497, 576-682, 822-879, 986-1043, 1117-1173, 1243-1294, and 1435-1465 respectively, based on numbering using E. coli system of nomenclature defined by Brosius et al., Complete nucleotide sequence of a 16S ribosomal RNA gene (16S rRNA) from Escherichia coli, PNAS 75(10):4801-4805 (1978). FIG. 1B highlights in bold the nucleotide sequences for each hypervariable region in the exemplary reference E. coli 16S sequence described by Brosius et al. FIG. 1B discloses SEQ ID NO: 1926.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF TABLES

Table 1 provides bacterial species and Operational Taxonomic Units (OTUs) of the bacterial compositions of the present invention, including taxonometric status and the ability of the OTU to form a viable spore as provided herein.

Table 2 provides representative combinations of the bacterial compositions of the present invention.

16S rRNA sequences of the bacterial species and Operational Taxonomic Units (OTUs) of the bacterial compositions of the present invention are provided in the CRF version of the Sequence Listing as SEQ ID NOS 1-1,864.

The taxonometric status, exemplary phylogenetic surrogacy and 16S rRNA sequences of exemplary bacterial compositions of the present invention are provided in the CRF version of the Sequence Listing as SEQ ID NOS 1,865-1,915.

Table 3 demonstrates the efficacy of exemplary bacterial compositions of the present invention in inhibiting a pathogenic bacterium.

Table 4 demonstrates the efficacy of exemplary bacterial compositions of the present invention in inhibiting a pathogenic bacterium.

Table 5 provides representative bacterial pathogens.

Table 6 provides representative human diseases, disorders and conditions for which the provided bacterial compositions are useful.

Table 7 provides representative human diseases, disorders and conditions for which the provided bacterial compositions are useful.

Definitions

“Microbiota” refers to the communities of microbes that live in or on the patient's body, both sustainably and transiently, including eukaryotes, archaea, bacteria, and viruses (including bacterial viruses (i.e., phage)).

“Dysbiosis” refers to a state of the microbiota or microbiome of the gut or other body area, including mucosal or skin surfaces in which the normal diversity and/or function of the ecological network is disrupted. Any disruption from the preferred (e.g., ideal) state of the microbiota can be considered a dysbiosis, even if such dysbiosis does not result in a detectable decrease in health. This state of dysbiosis may be unhealthy, it may be unhealthy under only certain conditions, or it may prevent a subject from becoming healthier. Dysbiosis may be due to a decrease in diversity, the overgrowth of one or more pathogens or pathobionts, symbiotic organisms able to cause disease only when certain genetic and/or environmental conditions are present in a patient, or the shift to an ecological network that no longer provides a beneficial function to the host and therefore no longer promotes health.

A “spore” or a population of “spores” includes bacteria (or other single-celled organisms) that are generally viable, more resistant to environmental influences such as heat and bacteriocidal agents than vegetative forms of the same bacteria, and typically capable of germination and out-growth. “Spore-formers” or bacteria “capable of forming spores” are those bacteria containing the genes and other necessary abilities to produce spores under suitable environmental conditions.

The terms “pathogen”, “pathobiont” and “pathogenic” in reference to a bacterium or any other organism or entity includes any such organism or entity that is capable of causing or affecting a disease, disorder or condition of a host organism containing the organism or entity.

The term “isolated” encompasses a bacterium or other entity or substance that has been (1) separated from at least some of the components with which it was associated when initially produced (whether in nature or in an experimental setting), and/or (2) produced, prepared, purified, and/or manufactured by the hand of man. Isolated bacteria may be separated from at least about 10%, about 20%, about 30%, about 40%, about 50%, about 60%, about 70%, about 80%, about 90%, or more of the other components with which they were initially associated. In some embodiments, isolated bacteria are more than about 80%, about 85%, about 90%, about 91%, about 92%, about 93%, about 94%, about 95%, about 96%, about 97%, about 98%, about 99%, or more than about 99% pure. As used herein, a substance is “pure” if it is substantially free of other components. The terms “purify,” “purifying” and “purified” refer to a bacterium or other material that has been separated from at least some of the components with which it was associated either when initially produced or generated (e.g., whether in nature or in an experimental setting), or during any time after its initial production. A bacterium or a bacterial population may be considered purified if it is isolated at or after production, such as from a material or environment containing the bacterium or bacterial population, and a purified bacterium or bacterial population may contain other materials up to about 10%, about 20%, about 30%, about 40%, about 50%, about 60%, about 70%, about 80%, about 90%, or above about 90% and still be considered “isolated.” In some embodiments, purified bacteria and bacterial populations are more than about 80%, about 85%, about 90%, about 91%, about 92%, about 93%, about 94%, about 95%, about 96%, about 97%, about 98%, about 99%, or more than about 99% pure. In the instance of bacterial compositions provided herein, the one or more bacterial types present in the composition can be independently purified from one or more other bacteria produced and/or present in the material or environment containing the bacterial type. Bacterial compositions and the bacterial components thereof are generally purified from residual habitat products.

“Inhibition” of a pathogen encompasses the inhibition of any desired function or activity of the bacterial compositions of the present invention. Demonstrations of pathogen inhibition, such as decrease in the growth of a pathogenic bacterium or reduction in the level of colonization of a pathogenic bacterium are provided herein and otherwise recognized by one of ordinary skill in the art. Inhibition of a pathogenic bacterium's “growth” may include inhibiting the increase in size of the pathogenic bacterium and/or inhibiting the proliferation (or multiplication) of the pathogenic bacterium. Inhibition of colonization of a pathogenic bacterium may be demonstrated by measuring the amount or burden of a pathogen before and after a treatment. An “inhibition” or the act of “inhibiting” includes the total cessation and partial reduction of one or more activities of a pathogen, such as growth, proliferation, colonization, and function.

The “colonization” of a host organism includes the non-transitory residence of a bacterium or other microscopic organism. As used herein, “reducing colonization” of a host subject's gastrointestinal tract (or any other microbiotal niche) by a pathogenic bacterium includes a reduction in the residence time of the pathogen in the gastrointestinal tract as well as a reduction in the number (or concentration) of the pathogen in the gastrointestinal tract or adhered to the luminal surface of the gastrointestinal tract. Measuring reductions of adherent pathogens may be demonstrated, e.g., by a biopsy sample, or reductions may be measured indirectly, e.g., by measuring the pathogenic burden in the stool of a mammalian host.

A “combination” of two or more bacteria includes the physical co-existence of the two bacteria, either in the same material or product or in physically connected products, as well as the temporal co-administration or co-localization of the two bacteria.

A “cytotoxic” activity or bacterium includes the ability to kill a bacterial cell, such as a pathogenic bacterial cell. A “cytostatic” activity or bacterium includes the ability to inhibit, partially or fully, growth, metabolism, and/or proliferation of a bacterial cell, such as a pathogenic bacterial cell.

To be free of “non-comestible products” means that a bacterial composition or other material provided herein does not have a substantial amount of a non-comestible product, e.g., a product or material that is inedible, harmful or otherwise undesired in a product suitable for administration, e.g., oral administration, to a human subject. Non-comestible products are often found in preparations of bacteria from the prior art.

“Microbiome” refers to the genetic content of the communities of microbes that live in and on the human body, both sustainably and transiently, including eukaryotes, archaea, bacteria, and viruses (including bacterial viruses (i.e., phage)), wherein “genetic content” includes genomic DNA, RNA such as micro RNA and ribosomal RNA, the epigenome, plasmids, and all other types of genetic information.

“Residual habitat products” refers to material derived from the habitat for microbiota within or on a human or animal. For example, microbiota live in feces in the gastrointestinal tract, on the skin itself, in saliva, mucus of the respiratory tract, or secretions of the genitourinary tract (i.e., biological matter associated with the microbial community). Substantially free of residual habitat products means that the bacterial composition no longer contains the biological matter associated with the microbial environment on or in the human or animal subject and is 100% free, 99% free, 98% free, 97% free, 96% free, or 95% free of any contaminating biological matter associated with the microbial community. Residual habitat products can include abiotic materials (including undigested food) or it can include unwanted microorganisms. Substantially free of residual habitat products may also mean that the bacterial composition contains no detectable cells from a human or animal and that only microbial cells are detectable. In one embodiment, substantially free of residual habitat products may also mean that the bacterial composition contains no detectable viral (including bacterial viruses (i.e., phage)), fungal, mycoplasmal contaminants. In another embodiment, it means that fewer than 1×10⁻²%, 1×10⁻³%, 1×10⁻⁴%, 1×10⁻⁵%, 1×10⁻⁶%, 1×10⁻⁷%, 1×10⁻⁸ of the viable cells in the bacterial composition are human or animal, as compared to microbial cells. There are multiple ways to accomplish this degree of purity, none of which are limiting. Thus, contamination may be reduced by isolating desired constituents through multiple steps of streaking to single colonies on solid media until replicate (such as, but not limited to, two) streaks from serial single colonies have shown only a single colony morphology. Alternatively, reduction of contamination can be accomplished by multiple rounds of serial dilutions to single desired cells (e.g., a dilution of 10⁻⁸ or 10⁻⁹), such as through multiple 10-fold serial dilutions. This can further be confirmed by showing that multiple isolated colonies have similar cell shapes and Gram staining behavior.

Other methods for confirming adequate purity include genetic analysis (e.g. PCR, DNA sequencing), serology and antigen analysis, enzymatic and metabolic analysis, and methods using instrumentation such as flow cytometry with reagents that distinguish desired constituents from contaminants.

“Phylogenetic tree” refers to a graphical representation of the evolutionary relationships of one genetic sequence to another that is generated using a defined set of phylogenetic reconstruction algorithms (e.g. parsimony, maximum likelihood, or Bayesian). Nodes in the tree represent distinct ancestral sequences and the confidence of any node is provided by a bootstrap or Bayesian posterior probability, which measures branch uncertainty.

“Operational taxonomic unit (OTU, plural OTUs)” refers to a terminal leaf in a phylogenetic tree and is defined by a specific genetic sequence and all sequences that share sequence identity to this sequence at the level of species. A “type” or a plurality of “types” of bacteria includes an OTU or a plurality of different OTUs, and also encompasses a strain, species, genus, family or order of bacteria. The specific genetic sequence may be the 16S sequence or a portion of the 16S sequence or it may be a functionally conserved housekeeping gene found broadly across the eubacterial kingdom. OTUs share at least 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99% sequence identity. OTUs are frequently defined by comparing sequences between organisms. Sequences with less than 95% sequence identity are not considered to form part of the same OTU.

“Clade” refers to the set of OTUs or members of a phylogenetic tree downstream of a statistically valid node in a phylogenetic tree. The clade comprises a set of terminal leaves in the phylogenetic tree that is a distinct monophyletic evolutionary unit.

In microbiology, “16S sequencing” or “16S rRNA” or “16S-rRNA” or “16S” refers to sequence derived by characterizing the nucleotides that comprise the 16S ribosomal RNA gene(s). The bacterial 16S rDNA is approximately 1500 nucleotides in length and is used in reconstructing the evolutionary relationships and sequence similarity of one bacterial isolate to another using phylogenetic approaches. 16S sequences are used for phylogenetic reconstruction as they are in general highly conserved, but contain specific hypervariable regions that harbor sufficient nucleotide diversity to differentiate genera and species of most bacteria, as well as fungi.

The “V1-V9 regions” of the 16S rRNA refers to the first through ninth hypervariable regions of the 16S rRNA gene that are used for genetic typing of bacterial samples. These regions in bacteria are defined by nucleotides 69-99, 137-242, 433-497, 576-682, 822-879, 986-1043, 1117-1173, 1243-1294 and 1435-1465 respectively using numbering based on the E. coli system of nomenclature. Brosius et al., Complete nucleotide sequence of a 16S ribosomal RNA gene from Escherichia coli, PNAS 75(10):4801-4805 (1978). In some embodiments, at least one of the V1, V2, V3, V4, V5, V6, V7, V8, and V9 regions are used to characterize an OTU. In one embodiment, the V1, V2, and V3 regions are used to characterize an OTU. In another embodiment, the V3, V4, and V5 regions are used to characterize an OTU. In another embodiment, the V4 region is used to characterize an OTU. A person of ordinary skill in the art can identify the specific hypervariable regions of a candidate 16S rRNA (in SEQ ID NOs 1-1,864) by comparing the candidate sequence in question to the reference sequence and identifying the hypervariable regions based on similarity to the reference hypervariable regions.

The terms “subject” or “patient” refers to any animal subject including humans, laboratory animals (e.g., primates, rats, mice), livestock (e.g., cows, sheep, goats, pigs, turkeys, chickens), and household pets (e.g., dogs, cats, rodents, etc.). The subject or patient may be healthy, or may be suffering from an infection due to a gastrointestinal pathogen or may be at risk of developing or transmitting to others an infection due to a gastrointestinal pathogen.

The term “pathobiont” refer to specific bacterial species found in healthy hosts that may trigger immune-mediated pathology and/or disease in response to certain genetic or environmental factors. Chow et al., (2011) Curr Op Immunol. Pathobionts of the intestinal microbiota and inflammatory disease. 23: 473-80. Thus, a pathobiont is a pathogen that is mechanistically distinct from an acquired infectious organism. Thus, the term “pathogen” includes both acquired infectious organisms and pathobionts.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Bacterial Compositions

Provided are bacteria and combinations of bacteria of the human gut microbiota with the capacity to meaningfully provide functions of a healthy microbiota or catalyze an augmentation to the resident microbiome when administered to mammalian hosts. In particular, provided are synergistic combinations that treat, prevent, delay or reduce the symptoms of diseases, disorders and conditions associated with a dysbiosis. Representative diseases, disorders and conditions potentially associated with a dysbiosis, which are suitable for treatment with the compositions and methods as described herein, are provided in Tables 8 and 9. Without being limited to a specific mechanism, it is thought that such compositions inhibit the growth, proliferation, and/or colonization of one or a plurality of pathogenic bacteria in the dysbiotic microbiotal niche, so that a healthy, diverse and protective microbiota colonizes and populates the intestinal lumen to establish or reestablish ecological control over pathogens or potential pathogens (e.g., some bacteria are pathogenic bacteria only when present in a dysbiotic environment). Inhibition of pathogens includes those pathogens such as C. difficile, Salmonella spp., enteropathogenic E. coli, multi-drug resistant bacteria such as Klebsiella, and E. coli, Carbapenem-resistent Enterobacteriaceae (CRE), extended spectrum beta-lactam resistant Enterococci (ESBL), and vancomycin-resistant Enterococci (VRE).

The bacterial compositions provided herein are produced and the efficacy thereof in inhibiting pathogenic bacteria is demonstrated as provided in further detail herein.

In particular, in order to characterize those antagonistic relationships between gut commensals that are relevant to the dynamics of the mammalian gut habitat, provided is an in vitro microplate-based screening system that demonstrates the efficacy of those bacterial compositions, including the ability to inhibit (or antagonize) the growth of a bacterial pathogen or pathobiont, typically a gastrointestinal microorganism. These methods provide novel combinations of gut microbiota species and OTUs that are able to restore or enhance ecological control over important gut pathogens or pathobionts in vivo.

Bacterial compositions may comprise two types of bacteria (termed “binary combinations” or “binary pairs”) or greater than two types of bacteria. Bacterial compositions that comprise three types of bacteria are termed “ternary combinations”. For instance, a bacterial composition may comprise at least 2, at least 3, at least 4, at least 5, at least 6, at least 7, at least 8, at least 9, at least 10, at least 11, at least 12, at least 13, at least 14, at least 15, at least 16, at least 17, at least 18, at least 19, at least 20, or at least 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, or at least 40, at least 50 or greater than 50 types of bacteria, as defined by species or operational taxonomic unit (OTU), or otherwise as provided herein. In one embodiment, the composition comprises at least two types of bacteria chosen from Table 1.

In another embodiment, the number of types of bacteria present in a bacterial composition is at or below a known value. For example, in such embodiments the bacterial composition comprises 50 or fewer types of bacteria, such as 49, 48, 47, 46, 45, 44, 43, 42, 41, 40,39, 38, 37, 36, 35, 34, 33, 32, 31, 30, 29, 28, 27, 26, 25, 24, 23, 22, 21, 20, 19, 18, 17, 16, 15, 14, 13, 12, 11, or 10 or fewer, or 9 or fewer types of bacteria, 8 or fewer types of bacteria, 7 or fewer types of bacteria, 6 or fewer types of bacteria, 5 or fewer types of bacteria, 4 or fewer types of bacteria, or 3 or fewer types of bacteria. In another embodiment, a bacterial composition comprises from 2 to no more than 40, from 2 to no more than 30, from 2 to no more than 20, from 2 to no more than 15, from 2 to no more than 10, or from 2 to no more than 5 types of bacteria.

In some embodiments, bacterial compositions are provided with the ability to exclude pathogenic bacteria. Exemplary bacterial compositions are demonstrated to reduce the growth rate of one pathogen, C. difficile, as provided in the Examples, wherein the ability of the bacterial compositions is demonstrated by assessing the antagonism activity of a combination of OTUs or strains towards a given pathogen using in vitro assays.

In some embodiments, bacterial compositions with the capacity to durably exclude C. difficile, are developed using a methodology for estimating an Ecological Control Factor (ECF) for constituents within the human microbiota. The ECF is determined by assessing the antagonistic activity of a given commensal strain or combination of strains towards a given pathogen using an in vitro assay, resulting in observed levels of ecological control at various concentrations of the added commensal strains. The ECF for a commensal strain or combination of strains is somewhat analogous to the longstanding minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) assessment that is employed in the assessment of antibiotics. The ECF allows for the assessment and ranking of relative potencies of commensal strains and combinations of strains for their ability to antagonize gastrointestinal pathogens. The ECF of a commensal strain or combination of strains may be calculated by assessing the concentration of that composition that is able to mediate a given percentage of inhibition (e.g., at least 10%, 20%, 50%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, or 100%) of a target pathogen in the in vitro assay. Provided herein are combinations of strains or OTUs within the human microbiota that are able to significantly reduce the rate of gastrointestinal pathogen replication within the in vitro assay. These compositions are capable of providing a safe and effective means by which to affect the growth, replication, and disease severity of such bacterial pathogens.

Bacterial compositions may be prepared comprising at least two types of isolated bacteria, wherein a first type and a second type are independently chosen from the species or OTUs listed in Table 1 and SEQ ID NOs. 1-1,864. Certain embodiments of bacterial compositions with at least two types of isolated bacteria containing binary pairs are reflected in Table 2. Additionally, a bacterial composition may be prepared comprising at least two types of isolated bacteria, wherein a first OTU and a second OTU are independently characterized by, i.e., at least 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% or including 100% sequence identity to, sequences listed in SEQ ID NOs. 1-1,864. Generally, the first bacteria and the second bacteria are not the same OTU. The sequences provided in SEQ ID NOs. 1-1,864 are full 16S sequences. Therefore, in one embodiment, the first and/or second OTUs may be characterized by the full 16S sequences listed in SEQ ID NOs. 1-1,864. In another embodiment, the first and/or second OTUs may be characterized by one or more of the variable regions of the 16S sequence (V1-V9). These regions in bacteria are defined by nucleotides 69-99, 137-242, 433-497, 576-682, 822-879, 986-1043, 1117-1173, 1243-1294 and 1435-1465 respectively using numbering based on the E. coli system of nomenclature. (See, e.g., Brosius et al., Complete nucleotide sequence of a 16S ribosomal RNA gene from Escherichia coli, PNAS 75(10):4801-4805 (1978)). In some embodiments, at least one of the V1, V2, V3, V4, V5, V6, V7, V8, and V9 regions are used to characterize an OTU. In one embodiment, the V1, V2, and V3 regions are used to characterize an OTU. In another embodiment, the V3, V4, and V5 regions are used to characterize an OTU. In another embodiment, the V4 region is used to characterize an OTU.

Methods for Determining 16S Sequence. OTUs may be defined either by full 16S sequencing of the rRNA gene, by sequencing of a specific hypervariable region of this gene (i.e. V1, V2, V3, V4, V5, V6, V7, V8, or V9), or by sequencing of any combination of hypervariable regions from this gene (e.g. V1-3 or V3-5). The bacterial 16S rDNA is approximately 1500 nucleotides in length and is used in reconstructing the evolutionary relationships and sequence similarity of one bacterial isolate to another using phylogenetic approaches. 16S sequences are used for phylogenetic reconstruction as they are in general highly conserved, but contain specific hypervariable regions that harbor sufficient nucleotide diversity to differentiate genera and species of most microbes. Using well known techniques, in order to determine the full 16S sequence or the sequence of any hypervariable region of the 16S sequence, genomic DNA is extracted from a bacterial sample, the 16S rDNA (full region or specific hypervariable regions) amplified using polymerase chain reaction (PCR), the PCR products cleaned, and nucleotide sequences delineated to determine the genetic composition of 16S gene or subdomain of the gene. If full 16S sequencing is performed, the sequencing method used may be, but is not limited to, Sanger sequencing. If one or more hypervariable regions are used, such as the V4 region, the sequencing may be, but is not limited to being, performed using the Sanger method or using a next-generation sequencing method, such as an Illumina (sequencing by synthesis) method using barcoded primers allowing for multiplex reactions.

Bacterial Compositions exclusive of certain bacterial species or strains. In one embodiment, the bacterial composition does not comprise at least one of Enterococcus faecalis (previously known as Streptococcus faecalis), Clostridium innocuum, Clostridium ramosum, Bacteroides ovatus, Bacteroides vulgatus, Bacteroides thetaoiotaomicron, Escherichia coli (1109 and 1108-1), Clostridium bifermentans, and Blautia producta (previously known as Peptostreptococcus productus).

In another embodiment, the bacterial composition does not comprise at least one of Acidaminococcus intestinalis, Bacteroides ovatus, two species of Bifidobacterium adolescentis, two species of Bifidobacterium longum, Collinsella aerofaciens, two species of Dorea longicatena, Escherichia coli, Eubacterium eligens, Eubacterium limosum, four species of Eubacterium rectale, Eubacterium ventriosumi, Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus paracasei, Paracateroides distasonis, Raoultella sp., one species of Roseburia (chosen from Roseburia faecalis or Roseburia faecis), Roseburia intestinalis, two species of Ruminococcus torques, and Streptococcus mitis.

In another embodiment, the bacterial composition does not comprise at least one of Barnesiella intestinihominis; Lactobacillus reuteri; a species characterized as one of Enterococcus hirae, Enterococus faecium, or Enterococcus durans; a species characterized as one of Anaerostipes caccae or Clostridium indolis; a species characterized as one of Staphylococcus warneri or Staphylococcus pasteuri; and Adlercreutzia equolfaciens.

In another embodiment, the bacterial composition does not comprise at least one of Clostridium absonum, Clostridium argentinense, Clostridium baratii, Clostridium bifermentans, Clostridium botulinum, Clostridium butyricum, Clostridium cadaveris, Clostridium camis, Clostridium celatum, Clostridium chauvoei, Clostridium clostridioforme, Clostridium cochlearium, Clostridium difficile, Clostridium fallax, Clostridium felsineum, Clostridium ghonii, Clostridium glycolicum, Clostridium haemolyticum, Clostridium hastiforme, Clostridium histolyticum, Clostridium indolis, Clostridium innocuum, Clostridium irregulare, Clostridium limosum, Clostridium malenominatum, Clostridium novyi, Clostridium oroticum, Clostridium paraputrificum, Clostridium perfringens, Clostridium piliforme, Clostridium putrefaciens, Clostridium putrificum, Clostridium ramosum, Clostridium sardiniense, Clostridium sartagoforme, Clostridium scindens, Clostridium septicum, Clostridium sordellii, Clostridium sphenoides, Clostridium spiroforme, Clostridium sporogenes, Clostridium subterminale, Clostridium symbiosum, Clostridium tertium, Clostridium tetani, Clostridium welchii, and Clostridium villosum.

In another embodiment, the bacterial composition does not comprise at least one of Clostridium innocuum, Clostridum bifermentans, Clostridium butyricum, Bacteroides fragilis, Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron, Bacteroides unformis, three strains of Escherichia coli, and Lactobacillus sp.

In another embodiment, the bacterial composition does not comprise at least one of Clostridium bifermentans, Clostridium innocuum, Clostridium butyricum, three strains of Escherichia coli, three strains of Bacteroides, and Blautia producta (previously known as Peptostreptococcus productus).

In another embodiment, the bacterial composition does not comprise at least one of Bacteroides sp., Escherichia coli, and non pathogenic Clostridia, including Clostridium innocuum, Clostridium bifermentans and Clostridium ramosum.

In another embodiment, the bacterial composition does not comprise at least one of more than one Bacteroides species, Escherichia coli and non-pathogenic Clostridia, such as Clostridium butyricum, Clostridium bifermentans and Clostridium innocuum.

In another embodiment, the bacterial composition does not comprise at least one of Bacteroides caccae, Bacteroides capillosus, Bacteroides coagulans, Bacteroides distasonis, Bacteroides eggerthii, Bacteroides forsythus, Bacteroides fragilis, Bacteroides fragilis-ryhm, Bacteroides gracilis, Bacteroides levii, Bacteroides macacae, Bacteroides merdae, Bacteroides ovatus, Bacteroides pneumosintes, Bacteroides putredinis, Bacteroides pyogenes, Bacteroides splanchnicus, Bacteroides stercoris, Bacteroides tectum, Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron, Bacteroides unformis, Bacteroides ureolyticus, and Bacteroides vulgatus.

In another embodiment, the bacterial composition does not comprise at least one of Bacteroides, Eubacteria, Fusobacteria, Propionibacteria, Lactobacilli, anaerobic cocci, Ruminococcus, Escherichia coli, Gemmiger, Desulfomonas, and Peptostreptococcus.

In another embodiment, the bacterial composition does not comprise at least one of Bacteroides fragilis ss. Vulgatus, Eubacterium aerofaciens, Bacteroides fragilis ss. Thetaiotaomicron, Blautia producta (previously known as Peptostreptococcus productus I), Bacteroides fragilis ss. Distasonis, Fusobacterium prausnitzii, Coprococcus eutactus, Eubacterium aerofaciens III, Blautia producta (previously known as Peptostreptococcus productus 1), Ruminococcus bromii, Biidobacterium adolescentis, Gemmiger formicilis, Bifidobacterium longum, Eubacterium siraeum, Ruminococcus torques, Eubacterium rectale III-H, Eubacterium rectale IV, Eubacterium eligens, Bacteroides eggerthii, Clostridium leptum, Bacteroides fragilis ss. A, Eubacterium biforme, Bifidobacterium infantis, Eubacterium rectale III-F, Coprococcus comes, Bacteroides capillosus, Ruminococcus albus, Eubacterium formicigenerans, Eubacterium hali, Eubacterium ventriosum I, Fusobacterium russii, Ruminococcus obeum, Eubacterium rectale II, Clostridium ramosum I, Lactobacillus leichmanii, Ruminococcus cailidus, Butyrivibrio crossotus, Acidaminococcus fermentans, Eubacterium ventriosum, Bacteroides fragilis ss. fragilis, Bacteroides AR, Coprococcus catus, Eubacterium hadrum, Eubacterium cylindroides, Eubacterium ruminantium, Eubacterium CH-1, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Peptostreptococcus BL, Eubacterium limosum, Bacteroides praeacutus, Bacteroides L, Fusobacterium mortiferum I, Fusobacterium naviforme, Clostridium innocuum, Clostridium ramosum, Propionibacterium acnes, Ruminococcus flavefaciens, Ruminococcus AT, Peptococcus AU-1, Eubacterium AG, -AK, -AL, -AL-1, -AN; Bacteroides fragilis ss. ovatus, -ss. d, -ss. f Bacteroides L-1, L-5; Fusobacterium nucleatum, Fusobacterium mortiferum, Escherichia coli, Streptococcus morbiliorum, Peptococcus magnus, Peptococcus G, AU-2; Streptococcus intermedius, Ruminococcus lactaris, Ruminococcus CO Gemmiger X, Coprococcus BH, —CC; Eubacterium tenue, Eubacterium ramulus, Eubacterium AE, -AG-H, -AG-M, -AJ, -BN-1; Bacteroides clostridiiformis ss. clostridformis, Bacteroides coagulans, Bacteroides orails, Bacteroides ruminicola ss. brevis, -ss. ruminicola, Bacteroides splanchnicus, Desuifomonas pigra, Bacteroides L-4, -N-i; Fusobacterium H, Lactobacillus G, and Succinivibrio A.

Inhibition ofBacterialPathogens. The bacterial compositions offer a protective or therapeutic effect against infection by one or more GI pathogens of interest.

A list of exemplary bacterial pathogens is provided in Table 5.

In some embodiments, the pathogenic bacterium is selected from the group consisting of Yersinia, Vibrio, Treponema, Streptococcus, Staphylococcus, Shigella, Salmonella, Rickettsia, Orientia, Pseudomonas, Neisseria, Mycoplasma, Mycobacterium, Listeria, Leptospira, Legionella, Klebsiella, Helicobacter, Haemophilus, Francisella, Escherichia, Ehrlichia, Enterococcus, Coxiella, Corynebacterium, Clostridium, Chlamydia, Chlamydophila, Campylobacter, Burkholderia, Brucella, Borrelia, Bordetella, Bifidobacterium, Bacillus, multi-drug resistant bacteria, extended spectrum beta-lactam resistant Enterococci (ESBL), Carbapenem-resistent Enterobacteriaceae (CRE), and vancomycin-resistant Enterococci (VRE).

In some embodiments, these pathogens include, but are not limited to, Aeromonas hydrophila, Campylobacter fetus, Plesiomonas shigelloides, Bacillus cereus, Campylobacter jejuni, Clostridium botulinum, Clostridium difficile, Clostridium perfringens, enteroaggregative Escherichia coli, enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli, enteroinvasive Escherichia coli, enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (such as, but not limited to, LT and/or ST), Escherichia coli 0157:H7, Helicobacter pylori, Klebsiellia pneumonia, Lysteria monocytogenes, Plesiomonas shigelloides, Salmonella spp., Salmonella typhi, Salmonella paratyphi, Shigella spp., Staphylococcus spp., Staphylococcus aureus, vancomycin-resistant enterococcus spp., Vibrio spp., Vibrio cholerae, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Vibrio vulnificus, and Yersinia enterocolitica.

In one embodiment, the pathogen of interest is at least one pathogen chosen from Clostridium difficile, Salmonella spp., pathogenic Escherichia coli, vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus spp., and extended spectrum beta-lactam resistant Enterococci (ESBL).

In Vitro Assays Substantiating Protective Effect of Bacterial Compositions.

In one embodiment, provided is an In Vitro Assay utilizing competition between the bacterial compositions or subsets thereof and C. difficile. Exemplary embodiments of this Assay are provided herein and in the Examples.

In another embodiment, provided is an In Vitro Assay utilizing 10% (wt/vol) Sterile-Filtered Feces. Provided is an in vitro assay to test for the protective effect of the bacterial compositions and to screen in vitro for combinations of microbes that inhibit the growth of a pathogen. The assay can operate in automated high-throughput or manual modes. Under either system, human or animal feces may be re-suspended in an anaerobic buffer solution, such as pre-reduced PBS or other suitable buffer, the particulate removed by centrifugation, and filter sterilized. This 10% sterile-filtered feces material serves as the base media for the in vitro assay. To test a bacterial composition, an investigator may add it to the sterile-filtered feces material for a first incubation period and then may inoculate the incubated microbial solution with the pathogen of interest for a second incubation period. The resulting titer of the pathogen may be quantified by any number of methods such as those described below, and the change in the amount of pathogen is compared to standard controls including the pathogen cultivated in the absence of the bacterial composition. The assay is conducted using at least one control. Feces from a healthy subject may be used as a positive control. As a negative control, antibiotic-treated feces or heat-treated feces may be used. Various bacterial compositions may be tested in this material and the bacterial compositions optionally compared to the positive and/or negative controls. The ability to inhibit the growth of the pathogen may be measured by plating the incubated material on C. difficile selective media and counting colonies. After competition between the bacterial composition and C. difficile, each well of the in vitro assay plate is serially diluted ten-fold six times, and plated on selective media, such as but not limited to cycloserine cefoxitin mannitol agar (CCMA) or cycloserine cefoxitin fructose agar (CCFA), and incubated.

Colonies of C. difficile are then counted to calculate the concentration of viable cells in each well at the end of the competition. Colonies of C. difficile are confirmed by their characteristic diffuse colony edge morphology as well as fluorescence under UV light.

In another embodiment, the in vitro assay utilizes Antibiotic-Treated Feces. In an alternative embodiment, and instead of using 10% sterile-filtered feces, human or animal feces may be resuspended in an anaerobic buffer solution, such as pre-reduced PBS or other suitable buffer. The resuspended feces is treated with an antibiotic, such as clindamycin, or a cocktail of several antibiotics in order to reduce the ability of feces from a healthy subject to inhibit the growth of C. difficile; this material is termed the antibiotic-treated matrix. While not being bound by any mechanism, it is believed that beneficial bacteria in healthy subjects protects them from infection by competing out C. difficile. Treating feces with antibiotics kills or reduces the population of those beneficial bacteria, allowing C. difficile to grow in this assay matrix. Antibiotics in addition to clindamycin that inhibit the normal flora include ceftriaxone and piperacillin-tazobactam and may be substituted for the clindamycin. The antibiotic-treated matrix is centrifuged, the supernatant removed, and the pelleted material resuspended in filter-sterilized, diluted feces in order to remove any residual antibiotic. This washed antibiotic-treated matrix may be used in the in vitro assay described above in lieu of the 10% sterile-filtered feces.

Alternatively, the ability to inhibit the growth of the pathogen may be measured by quantitative PCR (qPCR). Standard techniques may be followed to generate a standard curve for the pathogen of interest. Genomic DNA may be extracted from samples using commercially-available kits, such as the Mo Bio Powersoil®-htp 96 Well Soil DNA Isolation Kit (Mo Bio Laboratories, Carlsbad, Calif.), the Mo Bio Powersoil® DNA Isolation Kit (Mo Bio Laboratories, Carlsbad, Calif.), or the QIAamp DNA Stool Mini Kit (QIAGEN, Valencia, Calif.) according to the manufacturer's instructions. The qPCR may be conducted using HotMasterMix (5PRIME, Gaithersburg, Md.) and primers specific for the pathogen of interest, and may be conducted on a MicroAmp® Fast Optical 96-well Reaction Plate with Barcode (0.1 mL) (Life Technologies, Grand Island, N.Y.) and performed on a BioRad C1000™ Thermal Cycler equipped with a CFX96™ Real-Time System (BioRad, Hercules, Calif.), with fluorescent readings of the FAM and ROX channels. The Cq value for each well on the FAM channel is determined by the CFX Manager™ software version 2.1. The log₁₀(cfu/ml) of each experimental sample is calculated by inputting a given sample's Cq value into linear regression model generated from the standard curve comparing the Cq values of the standard curve wells to the known log₁₀(cfu/ml) of those samples. The skilled artisan may employ alternative qPCR modes.

Also provided are In Vivo Assay Establishing Protective Effect of Bacterial Compositions. Provided is an in vivo mouse model to test for the protective effect of the bacterial compositions against C. difficile. In this model (based on Chen, et al., A mouse model of Clostridium difficile associated disease, Gastroenterology 135(6):1984-1992 (2008)), mice are made susceptible to C. difficile by a 7 day treatment (days −12 to −5 of experiment) with 5 to 7 antibiotics (including kanamycin, colistin, gentamycin, metronidazole and vancomycin and optionally including ampicillin and ciprofloxacin) delivered via their drinking water, followed by a single dose with Clindamycin on day −3, then challenged three days later on day 0 with 10⁴ spores of C. difficile via oral gavage (i.e., oro-gastric lavage). Bacterial compositions may be given either before (prophylactic treatment) or after (therapeutic treatment) C. difficile gavage. Further, bacterial compositions may be given after (optional) vancomycin treatment (see below) to assess their ability to prevent recurrence and thus suppress the pathogen in vivo. The outcomes assessed each day from day −1 to day 6 (or beyond, for prevention of recurrence) are weight, clinical signs, mortality and shedding of C. difficile in the feces. Weight loss, clinical signs of disease, and C. difficile shedding are typically observed without treatment. Vancomycin provided by oral gavage on days −1 to 4 protects against these outcomes and serves as a positive control. Clinical signs are subjective, and scored each day by the same experienced observer. Animals that lose greater than or equal to 25% of their body weight are euthanized and counted as infection-related mortalities. Feces are gathered from mouse cages (5 mice per cage) each day, and the shedding of C. difficile spores is detected in the feces using a selective plating assay as described for the in vitro assay above, or via qPCR for the toxin gene as described herein. The effects of test materials including 10% suspension of human feces (as a positive control), bacterial compositions, or PBS (as a negative vehicle control), are determined by introducing the test article in a 0.2 mL volume into the mice via oral gavage on day −1, one day prior to C. difficile challenge, on day 1, 2 and 3 as treatment or post-vancomycin treatment on days 5, 6, 7 and 8. Vancomycin, as discussed above, is given on days 1 to 4 as another positive control. Alternative dosing schedules and routes of administration (e.g. rectal) may be employed, including multiple doses of test article, and 10³ to 10¹⁰ of a given organism or composition may be delivered.

Methods for Preparing a Bacterial Composition for Administration to a Subject.

Methods for producing bacterial compositions may include three main processing steps, combined with one or more mixing steps. The steps are: organism banking, organism production, and preservation.

For banking, the strains included in the bacterial composition may be (1) isolated directly from a specimen or taken from a banked stock, (2) optionally cultured on a nutrient agar or broth that supports growth to generate viable biomass, and (3) the biomass optionally preserved in multiple aliquots in long-term storage.

In embodiments using a culturing step, the agar or broth may contain nutrients that provide essential elements and specific factors that enable growth. An example would be a medium composed of 20 g/L glucose, 10 g/L yeast extract, 10 g/L soy peptone, 2 g/L citric acid, 1.5 g/L sodium phosphate monobasic, 100 mg/L ferric ammonium citrate, 80 mg/L magnesium sulfate, 10 mg/L hemin chloride, 2 mg/L calcium chloride, 1 mg/L menadione. A variety of microbiological media and variations are well known in the art (e.g. R. M. Atlas, Handbook of Microbiological Media (2010) CRC Press). Medium can be added to the culture at the start, may be added during the culture, or may be intermittently/continuously flowed through the culture. The strains in the bacterial composition may be cultivated alone, as a subset of the bacterial composition, or as an entire collection comprising the bacterial composition. As an example, a first strain may be cultivated together with a second strain in a mixed continuous culture, at a dilution rate lower than the maximum growth rate of either cell to prevent the culture from washing out of the cultivation.

The inoculated culture is incubated under favorable conditions for a time sufficient to build biomass. For bacterial compositions for human use this is often at 37° C. temperature, pH, and other parameter with values similar to the normal human niche. The environment may be actively controlled, passively controlled (e.g., via buffers), or allowed to drift. For example, for anaerobic bacterial compositions (e.g., gut microbiota), an anoxic/reducing environment may be employed. This can be accomplished by addition of reducing agents such as cysteine to the broth, and/or stripping it of oxygen. As an example, a culture of a bacterial composition may be grown at 37° C., pH 7, in the medium above, pre-reduced with 1 g/L cysteine D HCl.

When the culture has generated sufficient biomass, it may be preserved for banking. The organisms may be placed into a chemical milieu that protects from freezing (adding ‘cryoprotectants’), drying (‘lyoprotectants’), and/or osmotic shock (‘osmoprotectants’), dispensing into multiple (optionally identical) containers to create a uniform bank, and then treating the culture for preservation. Containers are generally impermeable and have closures that assure isolation from the environment. Cryopreservation treatment is accomplished by freezing a liquid at ultra-low temperatures (e.g., at or below −80° C.). Dried preservation removes water from the culture by evaporation (in the case of spray drying or ‘cool drying’) or by sublimation (e.g., for freeze drying, spray freeze drying). Removal of water improves long-term bacterial composition storage stability at temperatures elevated above cryogenic. If the bacterial composition comprises spore forming species and results in the production of spores, the final composition may be purified by additional means such as density gradient centrifugation preserved using the techniques described above. Bacterial composition banking may be done by culturing and preserving the strains individually, or by mixing the strains together to create a combined bank. As an example of cryopreservation, a bacterial composition culture may be harvested by centrifugation to pellet the cells from the culture medium, the supernate decanted and replaced with fresh culture broth containing 15% glycerol. The culture can then be aliquoted into 1 mL cryotubes, sealed, and placed at −80° C. for long-term viability retention. This procedure achieves acceptable viability upon recovery from frozen storage.

Organism production may be conducted using similar culture steps to banking, including medium composition and culture conditions. It may be conducted at larger scales of operation, especially for clinical development or commercial production. At larger scales, there may be several subcultivations of the bacterial composition prior to the final cultivation. At the end of cultivation, the culture is harvested to enable further formulation into a dosage form for administration. This can involve concentration, removal of undesirable medium components, and/or introduction into a chemical milieu that preserves the bacterial composition and renders it acceptable for administration via the chosen route. For example, a bacterial composition may be cultivated to a concentration of 10¹⁰ CFU/mL, then concentrated 20-fold by tangential flow microfiltration; the spent medium may be exchanged by diafiltering with a preservative medium consisting of 2% gelatin, 100 mM trehalose, and 10 mM sodium phosphate buffer. The suspension can then be freeze-dried to a powder and titrated.

After drying, the powder may be blended to an appropriate potency, and mixed with other cultures and/or a filler such as microcrystalline cellulose for consistency and ease of handling, and the bacterial composition formulated as provided herein.

Formulations. Provided are formulations for administration to humans and other subjects in need thereof. Generally the bacterial compositions are combined with additional active and/or inactive materials in order to produce a final product, which may be in single dosage unit or in a multi-dose format.

In some embodiments the composition comprises at least one carbohydrate. A “carbohydrate” refers to a sugar or polymer of sugars. The terms “saccharide,” “polysaccharide,” “carbohydrate,” and “oligosaccharide” may be used interchangeably. Most carbohydrates are aldehydes or ketones with many hydroxyl groups, usually one on each carbon atom of the molecule. Carbohydrates generally have the molecular formula C_(n)H_(2n)O_(n). A carbohydrate may be a monosaccharide, a disaccharide, trisaccharide, oligosaccharide, or polysaccharide. The most basic carbohydrate is a monosaccharide, such as glucose, sucrose, galactose, mannose, ribose, arabinose, xylose, and fructose. Disaccharides are two joined monosaccharides. Exemplary disaccharides include sucrose, maltose, cellobiose, and lactose. Typically, an oligosaccharide includes between three and six monosaccharide units (e.g., raffinose, stachyose), and polysaccharides include six or more monosaccharide units. Exemplary polysaccharides include starch, glycogen, and cellulose. Carbohydrates may contain modified saccharide units such as 2′-deoxyribose wherein a hydroxyl group is removed, 2′-fluororibose wherein a hydroxyl group is replace with a fluorine, or N-acetylglucosamine, a nitrogen-containing form of glucose (e.g., 2′-fluororibose, deoxyribose, and hexose). Carbohydrates may exist in many different forms, for example, conformers, cyclic forms, acyclic forms, stereoisomers, tautomers, anomers, and isomers.

In some embodiments the composition comprises at least one lipid. As used herein a “lipid” includes fats, oils, triglycerides, cholesterol, phospholipids, fatty acids in any form including free fatty acids. Fats, oils and fatty acids can be saturated, unsaturated (cis or trans) or partially unsaturated (cis or trans). In some embodiments the lipid comprises at least one fatty acid selected from lauric acid (12:0), myristic acid (14:0), palmitic acid (16:0), palmitoleic acid (16:1), margaric acid (17:0), heptadecenoic acid (17:1), stearic acid (18:0), oleic acid (18:1), linoleic acid (18:2), linolenic acid (18:3), octadecatetraenoic acid (18:4), arachidic acid (20:0), eicosenoic acid (20:1), eicosadienoic acid (20:2), eicosatetraenoic acid (20:4), eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5) (EPA), docosanoic acid (22:0), docosenoic acid (22:1), docosapentaenoic acid (22:5), docosahexaenoic acid (22:6) (DHA), and tetracosanoic acid (24:0). In some embodiments the composition comprises at least one modified lipid, for example a lipid that has been modified by cooking.

In some embodiments the composition comprises at least one supplemental mineral or mineral source. Examples of minerals include, without limitation: chloride, sodium, calcium, iron, chromium, copper, iodine, zinc, magnesium, manganese, molybdenum, phosphorus, potassium, and selenium. Suitable forms of any of the foregoing minerals include soluble mineral salts, slightly soluble mineral salts, insoluble mineral salts, chelated minerals, mineral complexes, non-reactive minerals such as carbonyl minerals, and reduced minerals, and combinations thereof.

In some embodiments the composition comprises at least one supplemental vitamin. The at least one vitamin can be fat-soluble or water soluble vitamins. Suitable vitamins include but are not limited to vitamin C, vitamin A, vitamin E, vitamin B12, vitamin K, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin D, vitamin B6, folic acid, pyridoxine, thiamine, pantothenic acid, and biotin. Suitable forms of any of the foregoing are salts of the vitamin, derivatives of the vitamin, compounds having the same or similar activity of the vitamin, and metabolites of the vitamin.

In some embodiments the composition comprises an excipient. Non-limiting examples of suitable excipients include a buffering agent, a preservative, a stabilizer, a binder, a compaction agent, a lubricant, a dispersion enhancer, a disintegration agent, a flavoring agent, a sweetener, and a coloring agent.

In some embodiments the excipient is a buffering agent. Non-limiting examples of suitable buffering agents include sodium citrate, magnesium carbonate, magnesium bicarbonate, calcium carbonate, and calcium bicarbonate.

In some embodiments the excipient comprises a preservative. Non-limiting examples of suitable preservatives include antioxidants, such as alpha-tocopherol and ascorbate, and antimicrobials, such as parabens, chlorobutanol, and phenol.

In some embodiments the composition comprises a binder as an excipient. Non-limiting examples of suitable binders include starches, pregelatinized starches, gelatin, polyvinylpyrolidone, cellulose, methylcellulose, sodium carboxymethylcellulose, ethylcellulose, polyacrylamides, polyvinyloxoazolidone, polyvinylalcohols, C₁₂-C₁₈ fatty acid alcohol, polyethylene glycol, polyols, saccharides, oligosaccharides, and combinations thereof.

In some embodiments the composition comprises a lubricant as an excipient. Non-limiting examples of suitable lubricants include magnesium stearate, calcium stearate, zinc stearate, hydrogenated vegetable oils, sterotex, polyoxyethylene monostearate, talc, polyethyleneglycol, sodium benzoate, sodium lauryl sulfate, magnesium lauryl sulfate, and light mineral oil.

In some embodiments the composition comprises a dispersion enhancer as an excipient. Non-limiting examples of suitable dispersants include starch, alginic acid, polyvinylpyrrolidones, guar gum, kaolin, bentonite, purified wood cellulose, sodium starch glycolate, isoamorphous silicate, and microcrystalline cellulose as high HLB emulsifier surfactants.

In some embodiments the composition comprises a disintegrant as an excipient. In some embodiments the disintegrant is a non-effervescent disintegrant. Non-limiting examples of suitable non-effervescent disintegrants include starches such as corn starch, potato starch, pregelatinized and modified starches thereof, sweeteners, clays, such as bentonite, micro-crystalline cellulose, alginates, sodium starch glycolate, gums such as agar, guar, locust bean, karaya, pecitin, and tragacanth. In some embodiments the disintegrant is an effervescent disintegrant. Non-limiting examples of suitable effervescent disintegrants include sodium bicarbonate in combination with citric acid, and sodium bicarbonate in combination with tartaric acid.

In some embodiments the excipient comprises a flavoring agent. Flavoring agents can be chosen from synthetic flavor oils and flavoring aromatics; natural oils; extracts from plants, leaves, flowers, and fruits; and combinations thereof. In some embodiments the flavoring agent is selected from cinnamon oils; oil of wintergreen; peppermint oils; clover oil; hay oil; anise oil; eucalyptus; vanilla; citrus oil such as lemon oil, orange oil, grape and grapefruit oil; and fruit essences including apple, peach, pear, strawberry, raspberry, cherry, plum, pineapple, and apricot.

In some embodiments the excipient comprises a sweetener. Non-limiting examples of suitable sweeteners include glucose (corn syrup), dextrose, invert sugar, fructose, and mixtures thereof (when not used as a carrier); saccharin and its various salts such as the sodium salt; dipeptide sweeteners such as aspartame; dihydrochalcone compounds, glycyrrhizin; Stevia Rebaudiana (Stevioside); chloro derivatives of sucrose such as sucralose; and sugar alcohols such as sorbitol, mannitol, sylitol, and the like. Also contemplated are hydrogenated starch hydrolysates and the synthetic sweetener 3,6-dihydro-6-methyl-1,2,3-oxathiazin-4-one-2,2-dioxide, particularly the potassium salt (acesulfame-K), and sodium and calcium salts thereof.

In some embodiments the composition comprises a coloring agent. Non-limiting examples of suitable color agents include food, drug and cosmetic colors (FD&C), drug and cosmetic colors (D&C), and external drug and cosmetic colors (Ext. D&C). The coloring agents can be used as dyes or their corresponding lakes.

The weight fraction of the excipient or combination of excipients in the formulation is usually about 99% or less, such as about 95% or less, about 90% or less, about 85% or less, about 80% or less, about 75% or less, about 70% or less, about 65% or less, about 60% or less, about 55% or less, 50% or less, about 45% or less, about 40% or less, about 35% or less, about 30% or less, about 25% or less, about 20% or less, about 15% or less, about 10% or less, about 5% or less, about 2% or less, or about 1% or less of the total weight of the composition.

The bacterial compositions disclosed herein can be formulated into a variety of forms and administered by a number of different means. The compositions can be administered orally, rectally, or parenterally, in formulations containing conventionally acceptable carriers, adjuvants, and vehicles as desired. The term “parenteral” as used herein includes subcutaneous, intravenous, intramuscular, or intrasternal injection and infusion techniques. In an exemplary embodiment, the bacterial composition is administered orally.

Solid dosage forms for oral administration include capsules, tablets, caplets, pills, troches, lozenges, powders, and granules. A capsule typically comprises a core material comprising a bacterial composition and a shell wall that encapsulates the core material. In some embodiments the core material comprises at least one of a solid, a liquid, and an emulsion. In some embodiments the shell wall material comprises at least one of a soft gelatin, a hard gelatin, and a polymer. Suitable polymers include, but are not limited to: cellulosic polymers such as hydroxypropyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC), methyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose, cellulose acetate, cellulose acetate phthalate, cellulose acetate trimellitate, hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose phthalate, hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose succinate and carboxymethylcellulose sodium; acrylic acid polymers and copolymers, such as those formed from acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, methyl acrylate, ammonio methylacrylate, ethyl acrylate, methyl methacrylate and/or ethyl methacrylate (e.g., those copolymers sold under the trade name “Eudragit”); vinyl polymers and copolymers such as polyvinyl pyrrolidone, polyvinyl acetate, polyvinylacetate phthalate, vinylacetate crotonic acid copolymer, and ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers; and shellac (purified lac). In some embodiments at least one polymer functions as taste-masking agents.

Tablets, pills, and the like can be compressed, multiply compressed, multiply layered, and/or coated. The coating can be single or multiple. In one embodiment, the coating material comprises at least one of a saccharide, a polysaccharide, and glycoproteins extracted from at least one of a plant, a fungus, and a microbe. Non-limiting examples include corn starch, wheat starch, potato starch, tapioca starch, cellulose, hemicellulose, dextrans, maltodextrin, cyclodextrins, inulins, pectin, mannans, gum arabic, locust bean gum, mesquite gum, guar gum, gum karaya, gum ghatti, tragacanth gum, funori, carrageenans, agar, alginates, chitosans, or gellan gum. In some embodiments the coating material comprises a protein. In some embodiments the coating material comprises at least one of a fat and an oil. In some embodiments the at least one of a fat and an oil is high temperature melting. In some embodiments the at least one of a fat and an oil is hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated. In some embodiments the at least one of a fat and an oil is derived from a plant. In some embodiments the at least one of a fat and an oil comprises at least one of glycerides, free fatty acids, and fatty acid esters. In some embodiments the coating material comprises at least one edible wax. The edible wax can be derived from animals, insects, or plants. Non-limiting examples include beeswax, lanolin, bayberry wax, carnauba wax, and rice bran wax. Tablets and pills can additionally be prepared with enteric coatings.

Alternatively, powders or granules embodying the bacterial compositions disclosed herein can be incorporated into a food product. In some embodiments the food product is a drink for oral administration. Non-limiting examples of a suitable drink include fruit juice, a fruit drink, an artificially flavored drink, an artificially sweetened drink, a carbonated beverage, a sports drink, a liquid diary product, a shake, an alcoholic beverage, a caffeinated beverage, infant formula and so forth. Other suitable means for oral administration include aqueous and nonaqueous solutions, emulsions, suspensions and solutions and/or suspensions reconstituted from non-effervescent granules, containing at least one of suitable solvents, preservatives, emulsifying agents, suspending agents, diluents, sweeteners, coloring agents, and flavoring agents.

In some embodiments the food product is a solid foodstuff. Suitable examples of a solid foodstuff include without limitation a food bar, a snack bar, a cookie, a brownie, a muffin, a cracker, an ice cream bar, a frozen yogurt bar, and the like.

In some embodiments, the compositions disclosed herein are incorporated into a therapeutic food. In some embodiments, the therapeutic food is a ready-to-use food that optionally contains some or all essential macronutrients and micronutrients. In some embodiments, the compositions disclosed herein are incorporated into a supplementary food that is designed to be blended into an existing meal. In some embodiments, the supplemental food contains some or all essential macronutrients and micronutrients. In some embodiments, the bacterial compositions disclosed herein are blended with or added to an existing food to fortify the food's protein nutrition. Examples include food staples (grain, salt, sugar, cooking oil, margarine), beverages (coffee, tea, soda, beer, liquor, sports drinks), snacks, sweets and other foods.

In one embodiment, the formulations are filled into gelatin capsules for oral administration. An example of an appropriate capsule is a 250 mg gelatin capsule containing from 10 (up to 100 mg) of lyophilized powder (10⁸ to 10¹¹ bacteria), 160 mg microcrystalline cellulose, 77.5 mg gelatin, and 2.5 mg magnesium stearate. In an alternative embodiment, from 10⁵ to 10¹² bacteria may be used, 10⁵ to 10⁷, 10⁶ to 10⁷, or 10⁸ to 10¹⁰, with attendant adjustments of the excipients if necessary. In an alternative embodiment an enteric-coated capsule or tablet or with a buffering or protective composition may be used.

In one embodiment, the number of bacteria of each type may be present in the same amount or in different amounts. For example, in a bacterial composition with two types of bacteria, the bacteria may be present in from a 1:10,000 ratio to a 1:1 ratio, from a 1:10,000 ratio to a 1:1,000 ratio, from a 1:1,000 ratio to a 1:100 ratio, from a 1:100 ratio to a 1:50 ratio, from a 1:50 ratio to a 1:20 ratio, from a 1:20 ratio to a 1:10 ratio, from a 1:10 ratio to a 1:1 ratio. For bacterial compositions comprising at least three types of bacteria, the ratio of type of bacteria may be chosen pairwise from ratios for bacterial compositions with two types of bacteria. For example, in a bacterial composition comprising bacteria A, B, and C, at least one of the ratio between bacteria A and B, the ratio between bacteria B and C, and the ratio between bacteria A and C may be chosen, independently, from the pairwise combinations above.

Methods of Treating a Subject.

In some embodiments the proteins and compositions disclosed herein are administered to a patient or a user (sometimes collectively referred to as a “subject”). As used herein “administer” and “administration” encompasses embodiments in which one person directs another to consume a bacterial composition in a certain manner and/or for a certain purpose, and also situations in which a user uses a bacteria composition in a certain manner and/or for a certain purpose independently of or in variance to any instructions received from a second person. Non-limiting examples of embodiments in which one person directs another to consume a bacterial composition in a certain manner and/or for a certain purpose include when a physician prescribes a course of conduct and/or treatment to a patient, when a parent commands a minor user (such as a child) to consume a bacterial composition, when a trainer advises a user (such as an athlete) to follow a particular course of conduct and/or treatment, and when a manufacturer, distributer, or marketer recommends conditions of use to an end user, for example through advertisements or labeling on packaging or on other materials provided in association with the sale or marketing of a product.

The bacterial compositions offer a protective and/or therapeutic effect against infection by one or more GI pathogens of interest and thus may be administered after an acute case of infection has been resolved in order to prevent relapse, during an acute case of infection as a complement to antibiotic therapy if the bacterial composition is not sensitive to the same antibiotics as the GI pathogen, or to prevent infection or reduce transmission from disease carriers. These pathogens include, but are not limited to, Aeromonas hydrophila, Campylobacter fetus, Plesiomonas shigelloides, Bacillus cereus, Campylobacter jejuni, Clostridium botulinum, Clostridium difficile, Clostridium perfringens, enteroaggregative Escherichia coli, enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli, enteroinvasive Escherichia coli, enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (LT and/or ST), Escherichia coli O157:H7, Helicobacter pylori, Klebsiella pneumonia, Lysteria monocytogenes, Plesiomonas shigelloides, Salmonella spp., Salmonella typhi, Shigella spp., Staphylococcus, Staphylococcus aureus, vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus spp., Vibrio spp., Vibrio cholerae, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Vibrio vulnificus, and Yersinia enterocolitica.

In one embodiment, the pathogen may be Clostridium difficile, Salmonella spp., pathogenic Escherichia coli, Carbapenem-resistent Enterobacteriaceae (CRE), extended spectrum beta-lactam resistant Enterococci (ESBL) and vancomycin-resistant Enterococci (VRE). In yet another embodiment, the pathogen may be Clostridium difficile.

The present bacterial compositions may be useful in a variety of clinical situations. For example, the bacterial compositions may be administered as a complementary treatment to antibiotics when a patient is suffering from an acute infection, to reduce the risk of recurrence after an acute infection has subsided, or when a patient will be in close proximity to others with or at risk of serious gastrointestinal infections (physicians, nurses, hospital workers, family members of those who are ill or hospitalized).

The present bacterial compositions may be administered to animals, including humans, laboratory animals (e.g., primates, rats, mice), livestock (e.g., cows, sheep, goats, pigs, turkeys, chickens), and household pets (e.g., dogs, cats, rodents).

In the present method, the bacterial composition is administered enterically, in other words by a route of access to the gastrointestinal tract. This includes oral administration, rectal administration (including enema, suppository, or colonoscopy), by an oral or nasal tube (nasogastric, nasojejunal, oral gastric, or oral jejunal), as detailed more fully herein.

A. Pretreatment Protocols

Prior to administration of the bacterial composition, the patient may optionally have a pretreatment protocol to prepare the gastrointestinal tract to receive the bacterial composition. In certain embodiments, the pretreatment protocol is advisable, such as when a patient has an acute infection with a highly resilient pathogen. In other embodiments, the pretreatment protocol is entirely optional, such as when the pathogen causing the infection is not resilient, or the patient has had an acute infection that has been successfully treated but where the physician is concerned that the infection may recur. In these instances, the pretreatment protocol may enhance the ability of the bacterial composition to affect the patient's microbiome.

As one way of preparing the patient for administration of the microbial ecosystem, at least one antibiotic may be administered to alter the bacteria in the patient. As another way of preparing the patient for administration of the microbial ecosystem, a standard colon-cleansing preparation may be administered to the patient to substantially empty the contents of the colon, such as used to prepare a patient for a colonscopy. By “substantially emptying the contents of the colon,” this application means removing at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 90%, at least 95%, or about 100% of the contents of the ordinary volume of colon contents. Antibiotic treatment may precede the colon-cleansing protocol.

If a patient has received an antibiotic for treatment of an infection, or if a patient has received an antibiotic as part of a specific pretreatment protocol, in one embodiment the antibiotic should be stopped in sufficient time to allow the antibiotic to be substantially reduced in concentration in the gut before the bacterial composition is administered. In one embodiment, the antibiotic may be discontinued 1, 2, or 3 days before the administration of the bacterial composition. In one embodiment, the antibiotic may be discontinued 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7 antibiotic half-lives before administration of the bacterial composition. In another embodiment, the antibiotic may be chosen so the constituents in the bacterial composition have an MIC50 that is higher than the concentration of the antibiotic in the gut.

MIC50 of a bacterial composition or the elements in the composition may be determined by methods well known in the art. Reller et al., Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing: A Review of General Principles and Contemporary Practices, Clinical Infectious Diseases 49(11):1749-1755 (2009). In such an embodiment, the additional time between antibiotic administration and administration of the bacterial composition is not necessary. If the pretreatment protocol is part of treatment of an acute infection, the antibiotic may be chosen so that the infection is sensitive to the antibiotic, but the constituents in the bacterial composition are not sensitive to the antibiotic.

Routes of Administration

The bacterial compositions of the invention are suitable for administration to mammals and non-mammalian animals in need thereof. In certain embodiments, the mammalian subject is a human subject who has one or more symptoms of a dysbiosis.

When the mammalian subject is suffering from a disease, disorder or condition characterized by an aberrant microbiota, the bacterial compositions described herein are suitable for treatment thereof. In some embodiments, the mammalian subject has not received antibiotics in advance of treatment with the bacterial compositions. For example, the mammalian subject has not been administered at least two doses of vancomycin, metronidazole and/or or similar antibiotic compound within one week prior to administration of the therapeutic composition. In other embodiments, the mammalian subject has not previously received an antibiotic compound in the one month prior to administration of the therapeutic composition. In other embodiments, the mammalian subject has received one or more treatments with one or more different antibiotic compounds and such treatment(s) resulted in no improvement or a worsening of symptoms.

In some embodiments, the gastrointestinal disease, disorder or condition is diarrhea caused by C. difficile including recurrent C. difficile infection, ulcerative colitis, colitis, Crohn's disease, or irritable bowel disease. Beneficially, the therapeutic composition is administered only once prior to improvement of the disease, disorder or condition. In some embodiments the therapeutic composition is administered at intervals greater than two days, such as once every three, four, five or six days, or every week or less frequently than every week. Or the preparation may be administered intermittently according to a set schedule, e.g., once a day, once weekly, or once monthly, or when the subject relapses from the primary illness. In another embodiment, the preparation may be administered on a long-term basis to subjects who are at risk for infection with or who may be carriers of these pathogens, including subjects who will have an invasive medical procedure (such as surgery), who will be hospitalized, who live in a long-term care or rehabilitation facility, who are exposed to pathogens by virtue of their profession (livestock and animal processing workers), or who could be carriers of pathogens (including hospital workers such as physicians, nurses, and other health care professionals).

In embodiments, the bacterial composition is administered enterically. This preferentially includes oral administration, or by an oral or nasal tube (including nasogastric, nasojejunal, oral gastric, or oral jejunal). In other embodiments, administration includes rectal administration (including enema, suppository, or colonoscopy). The bacterial composition may be administered to at least one region of the gastrointestinal tract, including the mouth, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, and rectum. In some embodiments it is administered to all regions of the gastrointestinal tract. The bacterial compositions may be administered orally in the form of medicaments such as powders, capsules, tablets, gels or liquids. The bacterial compositions may also be administered in gel or liquid form by the oral route or through a nasogastric tube, or by the rectal route in a gel or liquid form, by enema or instillation through a colonoscope or by a suppository.

If the composition is administered colonoscopically and, optionally, if the bacterial composition is administered by other rectal routes (such as an enema or suppository) or even if the subject has an oral administration, the subject may have a colon-cleansing preparation. The colon-cleansing preparation can facilitate proper use of the colonoscope or other administration devices, but even when it does not serve a mechanical purpose it can also maximize the proportion of the bacterial composition relative to the other organisms previously residing in the gastrointestinal tract of the subject. Any ordinarily acceptable colon-cleansing preparation may be used such as those typically provided when a subject undergoes a colonoscopy.

Dosages and Schedule for Administration

In some embodiments the bacteria and bacterial compositions are provided in a dosage form. In some embodiments the dosage form is designed for administration of at least one OTU or combination thereof disclosed herein, wherein the total amount of bacterial composition administered is selected from 0.1 ng to 10 g, 10 ng to 1 g, 100 ng to 0.1 g, 0.1 mg to 500 mg, 1 mg to 100 mg, or from 10-15 mg. In some embodiments the bacterial composition is consumed at a rate of from 0.1 ng to 10 g a day, 10 ng to 1 g a day, 100 ng to 0.1 g a day, 0.1 mg to 500 mg a day, 1 mg to 100 mg a day, or from 10-15 mg a day, or more.

In some embodiments the treatment period is at least 1 day, at least 2 days, at least 3 days, at least 4 days, at least 5 days, at least 6 days, at least 1 week, at least 2 weeks, at least 3 weeks, at least 4 weeks, at least 1 month, at least 2 months, at least 3 months, at least 4 months, at least 5 months, at least 6 months, or at least 1 year. In some embodiments the treatment period is from 1 day to 1 week, from 1 week to 4 weeks, from 1 month, to 3 months, from 3 months to 6 months, from 6 months to 1 year, or for over a year.

In one embodiment, from 10⁵ and 10 microorganisms total may be administered to the patient in a given dosage form. In one mode, an effective amount may be provided in from 1 to 500 ml or from 1 to 500 grams of the bacterial composition having from 10⁷ to 10¹¹ bacteria per ml or per gram, or a capsule, tablet or suppository having from 1 mg to 1000 mg lyophilized powder having from 10⁷ to 10¹¹ bacteria. Those receiving acute treatment may receive higher doses than those who are receiving chronic administration (such as hospital workers or those admitted into long-term care facilities).

Any of the preparations described herein may be administered once on a single occasion or on multiple occasions, such as once a day for several days or more than once a day on the day of administration (including twice daily, three times daily, or up to five times daily). Or the preparation may be administered intermittently according to a set schedule, e.g., once weekly, once monthly, or when the patient relapses from the primary illness. In another embodiment, the preparation may be administered on a long-term basis to individuals who are at risk for infection with or who may be carriers of these pathogens, including individuals who will have an invasive medical procedure (such as surgery), who will be hospitalized, who live in a long-term care or rehabilitation facility, who are exposed to pathogens by virtue of their profession (livestock and animal processing workers), or who could be carriers of pathogens (including hospital workers such as physicians, nurses, and other health care professionals).

Patient Selection

Particular bacterial compositions may be selected for individual patients or for patients with particular profiles. For example, 16S sequencing may be performed for a given patient to identify the bacteria present in his or her microbiota. The sequencing may either profile the patient's entire microbiome using 16S sequencing (to the family, genera, or species level), a portion of the patient's microbiome using 16S sequencing, or it may be used to detect the presence or absence of specific candidate bacteria that are biomarkers for health or a particular disease state, such as markers of multi-drug resistant organisms or specific genera of concern such as Escherichia. Based on the biomarker data, a particular composition may be selected for administration to a patient to supplement or complement a patient's microbiota in order to restore health or treat or prevent disease. In another embodiment, patients may be screened to determine the composition of their microbiota to determine the likelihood of successful treatment.

Combination Therapy

The bacterial compositions may be administered with other agents in a combination therapy mode, including anti-microbial agents and prebiotics. Administration may be sequential, over a period of hours or days, or simultaneous.

In one embodiment, the bacterial compositions are included in combination therapy with one or more anti-microbial agents, which include anti-bacterial agents, anti-fungal agents, anti-viral agents and anti-parasitic agents.

Anti-bacterial agents include cephalosporin antibiotics (cephalexin, cefuroxime, cefadroxil, cefazolin, cephalothin, cefaclor, cefamandole, cefoxitin, cefprozil, and ceftobiprole); fluoroquinolone antibiotics (cipro, Levaquin, floxin, tequin, avelox, and norflox); tetracycline antibiotics (tetracycline, minocycline, oxytetracycline, and doxycycline); penicillin antibiotics (amoxicillin, ampicillin, penicillin V, dicloxacillin, carbenicillin, vancomycin, and methicillin); and carbapenem antibiotics (ertapenem, doripenem, imipenem/cilastatin, and meropenem).

Anti-viral agents include Abacavir, Acyclovir, Adefovir, Amprenavir, Atazanavir, Cidofovir, Darunavir, Delavirdine, Didanosine, Docosanol, Efavirenz, Elvitegravir, Emtricitabine, Enfuvirtide, Etravirine, Famciclovir, Foscarnet, Fomivirsen, Ganciclovir, Indinavir, Idoxuridine, Lamivudine, Lopinavir Maraviroc, MK-2048, Nelfinavir, Nevirapine, Penciclovir, Raltegravir, Rilpivirine, Ritonavir, Saquinavir, Stavudine, Tenofovir Trifluridine, Valaciclovir, Valganciclovir, Vidarabine, Ibacitabine, Amantadine, Oseltamivir, Rimantidine, Tipranavir, Zalcitabine, Zanamivir and Zidovudine.

Examples of antifungal compounds include, but are not limited to polyene antifungals such as natamycin, rimocidin, filipin, nystatin, amphotericin B, candicin, and hamycin; imidazole antifungals such as miconazole, ketoconazole, clotrimazole, econazole, omoconazole, bifonazole, butoconazole, fenticonazole, isoconazole, oxiconazole, sertaconazole, sulconazole, and tioconazole; triazole antifungals such as fluconazole, itraconazole, isavuconazole, ravuconazole, posaconazole, voriconazole, terconazole, and albaconazole; thiazole antifungals such as abafungin; allylamine antifungals such as terbinafine, naftifine, and butenafine; and echinocandin antifungals such as anidulafungin, caspofungin, and micafungin. Other compounds that have antifungal properties include, but are not limited to polygodial, benzoic acid, ciclopirox, tolnaftate, undecylenic acid, flucytosine or 5-fluorocytosine, griseofulvin, and haloprogin.

In one embodiment, the bacterial compositions are included in combination therapy with one or more corticosteroids, mesalazine, mesalamine, sulfasalazine, sulfasalazine derivatives, immunosuppressive drugs, cyclosporin A, mercaptopurine, azathiopurine, prednisone, methotrexate, antihistamines, glucocorticoids, epinephrine, theophylline, cromolyn sodium, anti-leukotrienes, anti-cholinergic drugs for rhinitis, anti-cholinergic decongestants, mast-cell stabilizers, monoclonal anti-IgE antibodies, vaccines, and combinations thereof.

A prebiotic is a selectively fermented ingredient that allows specific changes, both in the composition and/or activity in the gastrointestinal microbiota that confers benefits upon host well-being and health. Prebiotics may include complex carbohydrates, amino acids, peptides, or other essential nutritional components for the survival of the bacterial composition. Prebiotics include, but are not limited to, amino acids, biotin, fructooligosaccharide, galactooligosaccharides, inulin, lactulose, mannan oligosaccharides, oligofructose-enriched inulin, oligofructose, oligodextrose, tagatose, trans-galactooligosaccharide, and xylooligosaccharides.

Methods for Characterization of Bacterial Compositions

In certain embodiments, provided are methods for testing certain characteristics of bacterial compositions. For example, the sensitivity of bacterial compositions to certain environmental variables is determined, e.g., in order to select for particular desirable characteristics in a given composition, formulation and/or use. For example, the constituents in the bacterial composition may be tested for pH resistance, bile acid resistance, and/or antibiotic sensitivity, either individually on a constituent-by-constituent basis or collectively as a bacterial composition comprised of multiple bacterial constituents (collectively referred to in this section as bacterial composition).

pH Sensitivity Testing. If a bacterial composition will be administered other than to the colon or rectum (i.e., through, for example, but not limited to, an oral route), optionally testing for pH resistance enhances the selection of bacterial compositions that will survive at the highest yield possible through the varying pH environments of the distinct regions of the GI tract. Understanding how the bacterial compositions react to the pH of the GI tract also assists in formulation, so that the number of bacteria in a dosage form can be increased if beneficial and/or so that the composition may be administered in an enteric-coated capsule or tablet or with a buffering or protective composition. As the pH of the stomach can drop to a pH of 1 to 2 after a high-protein meal for a short time before physiological mechanisms adjust it to a pH of 3 to 4 and often resides at a resting pH of 4 to 5, and as the pH of the small intestine can range from a pH of 6 to 7.4, bacterial compositions can be prepared that survive these varying pH ranges (specifically wherein at least 1%, 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, or as much as 100% of the bacteria can survive gut transit times through various pH ranges). This may be tested by exposing the bacterial composition to varying pH ranges for the expected gut transit times through those pH ranges. Therefore, as a nonlimiting example only, 18-hour cultures of bacterial compositions may be grown in standard media, such as gut microbiota medium (“GMM”, see Goodman et al., Extensive personal human gut microbiota culture collections characterized and manipulated in gnotobiotic mice, PNAS 108(15):6252-6257 (2011)) or another animal-products-free medium, with the addition of pH adjusting agents for a pH of 1 to 2 for 30 minutes, a pH of 3 to 4 for 1 hour, a pH of 4 to 5 for 1 to 2 hours, and a pH of 6 to 7.4 for 2.5 to 3 hours. An alternative method for testing stability to acid is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,839,281. Survival of bacteria may be determined by culturing the bacteria and counting colonies on appropriate selective or non-selective media.

Bile Acid Sensitivity Testing. Additionally, in some embodiments, testing for bile-acid resistance enhances the selection of bacterial compositions that will survive exposures to bile acid during transit through the GI tract. Bile acids are secreted into the small intestine and can, like pH, affect the survival of bacterial compositions. This may be tested by exposing the bacterial compositions to bile acids for the expected gut exposure time to bile acids. For example, bile acid solutions may be prepared at desired concentrations using 0.05 mM Tris at pH 9 as the solvent. After the bile acid is dissolved, the pH of the solution may be adjusted to 7.2 with 10% HCl. Bacterial compositions may be cultured in 2.2 ml of a bile acid composition mimicking the concentration and type of bile acids in the patient, 1.0 ml of 10% sterile-filtered feces media and 0.1 ml of an 18-hour culture of the given strain of bacteria. Incubations may be conducted for from 2.5 to 3 hours or longer. An alternative method for testing stability to bile acid is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,839,281. Survival of bacteria may be determined by culturing the bacteria and counting colonies on appropriate selective or non-selective media.

Antibiotic Sensitivity Testing. As a further optional sensitivity test, bacterial compositions may be tested for sensitivity to antibiotics. In one embodiment, bacterial compositions may be chosen so that the bacterial constituents are sensitive to antibiotics such that if necessary they can be eliminated or substantially reduced from the patient's gastrointestinal tract by at least one antibiotic targeting the bacterial composition.

Adherence to Gastrointestinal Cells. The bacterial compositions may optionally be tested for the ability to adhere to gastrointestinal cells. A method for testing adherence to gastrointestinal cells is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,839,281.

The specification is most thoroughly understood in light of the teachings of the references cited within the specification. The embodiments within the specification provide an illustration of embodiments and should not be construed to limit the scope. The skilled artisan readily recognizes that many other embodiments are encompassed. All publications and patents cited in this disclosure are incorporated by reference in their entirety. To the extent the material incorporated by reference contradicts or is inconsistent with this specification, the specification will supersede any such material. The citation of any references herein is not an admission that such references are prior art.

Unless otherwise indicated, all numbers expressing quantities of ingredients, reaction conditions, and so forth used in the specification, including claims, are to be understood as being modified in all instances by the term “about.” Accordingly, unless otherwise indicated to the contrary, the numerical parameters are approximations and may vary depending upon the desired properties sought to be obtained. At the very least, and not as an attempt to limit the application of the doctrine of equivalents to the scope of the claims, each numerical parameter should be construed in light of the number of significant digits and ordinary rounding approaches.

Unless otherwise indicated, the term “at least” preceding a series of elements is to be understood to refer to every element in the series.

EXAMPLES

Below are examples of specific embodiments for carrying out the present invention. The examples are offered for illustrative purposes only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention in any way. Efforts have been made to ensure accuracy with respect to numbers used (e.g., amounts, temperatures, etc.), but some experimental error and deviation should, of course, be allowed for. Examples of the techniques and protocols described herein with regard to therapeutic compositions can be found in, e.g., Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences, 16th edition, Osol, A. (ed), 1980.

Example 1. Construction of Binary Pairs in a High-Throughput 96-Well Format

To allow high-throughput screening of binary pairs, vials of −80° C. glycerol stock banks were thawed and diluted to 1e8 CFU/mL. Each strain was then diluted 10× (to a final concentration of 1e7 CFU/mL of each strain) into 200 uL of PBS+15% glycerol in the wells of a 96-well plate. Plates were then frozen at −80° C. When needed, plates were removed from −80° C. and thawed at room temperature under anaerobic conditions when testing in a CivSim with Clostridium difficile.

Example 2. Construction of Ternary Combinations in a High-Throughput 96-Well Format

To allow high-throughput screening of ternary combinations, vials of −80° C. glycerol stock banks were thawed and diluted to 1e8 CFU/mL. Each strain was then diluted 10× (to a final concentration of 1e7 CFU/mL of each strain) into 200 uL of PBS+15% glycerol in the wells of a 96-well plate. Plates were then frozen at −80° C. When needed for the assay, plates were removed from −80° C. and thawed at room temperature under anaerobic conditions when testing in a CivSim with Clostridium difficile.

Example 3. Construction of a CivSim Assay to Screen for Ecobiotic™ Compositions Inhibitory to the Growth of Clostridium difficile

An overnight culture of Clostridium difficile was grown under anaerobic conditions in SweetB-FosIn or other suitable media for the growth of C. difficile. SweetB-FosIn is a complex media composed of brain heart infusion, yeast extract, cysteine, cellobiose, maltose, soluble starch, and fructooligosaccharides/inulin, and hemin, and is buffered with MOPs. After 24 hr of growth the culture was diluted 100,000 fold into a complex media such as SweetB-FosIn which is suitable for the growth of a wide variety of anaerobic bacterial species. The diluted C. difficile mixture was then aliquoted to wells of a 96-well plate (180 uL to each well). 20 uL of a unique binary pair of potential inhibitory species was then added to each well at a final concentration of 1e6 CFU/mL of each species. Alternatively the assay can be tested with binary pairs at different initial concentrations (1e9 CFU/mL, 1e8 CFU/mL, 1e7 CFU/mL, 1e5 CFU/mL, 1e4 CFU/mL, 1e3 CFU/mL, 1e2 CFU/mL). Control wells only inoculated with C. difficile were included for a comparison to the growth of C. difficile without inhibition. Additional wells were used for controls that either inhibit or do not inhibit the growth of C. difficile. One example of a positive control that inhibits growth was a combination of Blautia producta, Clostridium bifermentans and Escherichia coli. One example of a control that shows reduced inhibition of C. difficile growth as a combination of Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron, Bacteroides ovatus and Bacteroides vulgatus. Plates were wrapped with parafilm and incubated for 24 hr at 37° C. under anaerobic conditions. After 24 hr the wells containing C. difficile alone were serially diluted and plated to determine titer. The 96-well plate was then frozen at −80 C before quantifying C. difficile by qPCR assay.

Example 4. Construction of a CivSim Assay to Screen for Bacterial Compositions that Produce Diffusible Products Inhibitory to the Growth of Clostridium difficile Using a Filter Insert

The CivSim assay described above was modified by using a 0.22 uM filter insert (Millipore™ MultiScreen™ 96-Well Assay Plates—Item MAGVS2210) in 96-well format to physically separate C. difficile from the bacterial compositions. The C. difficile was aliquoted into the 96-well plate while the bacterial compositions were aliquoted into media on the filter overlay. The nutrient media as in contact on both sides of the 0.22 uM filter, allowing exchange of nutrients, small molecules and many macromolecules (e.g., bacteriocins, cell-surface proteins, or polysaccharides) by diffusion. In this embodiment, after 24 hr incubation, the filter insert containing the bacterial compositions was removed. The plate containing C. difficile was then transferred to a 96-well plate reader suitable for measuring optical density (OD) at 600 nm. The growth of C. difficile in the presence of different bacterial compositions was compared based on the OD measurement.

Example 5. Construction of a CivSim Assay to Screen for Bacterial Compositions Inhibitory to the Growth of Clostridium difficile Using Clostridium difficile Selective Media for Quantification

The CivSim assay described above can be modified to determine final C. difficile titer by serially diluting and plating to C. difficile selective media (Bloedt et al 2009) such as CCFA (cycloserine cefoxitin fructose agar, Anaerobe Systems), CDSA (Clostridium difficile selective agar, which is cycloserine cefoxitin mannitol agar, Becton Dickinson).

Example 6. Quantification of C. difficile Using Quantitative PCR (qPCR)

Standard Curve Preparation

The standard curve was generated from a well on each assay plate containing only pathogenic C. difficile grown in SweetB+FosIn media as provided herein and quantified by selective spot plating. Serial dilutions of the culture were performed in sterile phosphate-buffered saline. Genomic DNA was extracted from the standard curve samples along with the other wells.

Genomic DNA Extraction

Genomic DNA was extracted from 5 μl of each sample using a dilution, freeze/thaw, and heat lysis protocol. 5 μL of thawed samples were added to 45 μL of UltraPure water (Life Technologies, Carlsbad, Calif.) and mixed by pipetting. The plates with diluted samples were frozen at −20° C. until use for qPCR which includes a heated lysis step prior to amplification. Alternatively the genomic DNA could be isolated using the Mo Bio Powersoil®-htp 96 Well Soil DNA Isolation Kit (Mo Bio Laboratories, Carlsbad, Calif.), Mo Bio Powersoil® DNA Isolation Kit (Mo Bio Laboratories, Carlsbad, Calif.), or the QIAamp DNA Stool Mini Kit (QIAGEN, Valencia, Calif.) according to the manufacturer's instructions.

qPCR Composition and Conditions

The qPCR reaction mixture contained 1× SsoAdvanced Universal Probes Supermix, 900 nM of Wr-tcdB-F primer (AGCAGTTGAATATAGTGGTTTAGTTAGAGTTG (SEQ ID NO: 1916), IDT, Coralville, Iowa), 900 nM of Wr-tcdB-R primer (CATGCTTTTTTAGTTTCTGGATTGAA (SEQ ID NO: 1917), IDT, Coralville, Iowa), 250 nM of Wr-tcdB-P probe (6FAM-CATCCAGTCTCAATTGTATATGTTTCTCCA-MGB (SEQ ID NO: 1918), Life Technologies, Grand Island, N.Y.), and Molecular Biology Grade Water (Mo Bio Laboratories, Carlsbad, Calif.) to 18 μl (Primers adapted from: Wroblewski, D. et al., Rapid Molecular Characterization of Clostridium difficile and Assessment of Populations of C. difficile in Stool Specimens, Journal of Clinical Microbiology 47:2142-2148 (2009)). This reaction mixture was aliquoted to wells of a Hard-shell Low-Profile Thin Wall 96-well Skirted PCR Plate (BioRad, Hercules, Calif.). To this reaction mixture, 2 μl of diluted, frozen, and thawed samples were added and the plate sealed with a Microseal ‘B’ Adhesive Seal (BioRad, Hercules, Calif.). The qPCR was performed on a BioRad C1000™ Thermal Cycler equipped with a CFX96™ Real-Time System (BioRad, Hercules, Calif.). The thermocycling conditions were 95° C. for 15 minutes followed by 45 cycles of 95° C. for 5 seconds, 60° C. for 30 seconds, and fluorescent readings of the FAM channel. Alternatively, the qPCR could be performed with other standard methods known to those skilled in the art.

Data Analysis

The Cq value for each well on the FAM channel was determined by the CFX Manager™ 3.0 software. The log₁₀(cfu/mL) of C. difficile each experimental sample was calculated by inputting a given sample's Cq value into a linear regression model generated from the standard curve comparing the Cq values of the standard curve wells to the known log₁₀(cfu/mL) of those samples. The log inhibition was calculated for each sample by subtracting the log₁₀(cfu/mL) of C. difficile in the sample from the log₁₀(cfu/mL) of C. difficile in the sample on each assay plate used for the generation of the standard curve that has no additional bacteria added. The mean log inhibition was calculated for all replicates for each composition.

A histogram of the range and standard deviation of each composition was plotted. Ranges or standard deviations of the log inhibitions that were distinct from the overall distribution were examined as possible outliers. If the removal of a single log inhibition datum from one of the binary pairs that were identified in the histograms would bring the range or standard deviation in line with those from the majority of the samples, that datum was removed as an outlier, and the mean log inhibition was recalculated.

The pooled variance of all samples evaluated in the assay was estimated as the average of the sample variances weighted by the sample's degrees of freedom. The pooled standard error was then calculated as the square root of the pooled variance divided by the square root of the number of samples. Confidence intervals for the null hypothesis were determined by multiplying the pooled standard error to the z score corresponding to a given percentage threshold. Mean log inhibitions outside the confidence interval were considered to be inhibitory if positive or stimulatory if negative with the percent confidence corresponding to the interval used. Samples with mean log inhibition greater than the 99% confidence interval (C.I) of the null hypothesis are reported as ++++, those with a 95%<C.I.<99% as +++, those with a 90%<C.I.<95% as ++, those with a 80%<C.I.<90% as + while samples with mean log inhibition less than than the 99% confidence interval (C.I) of the null hypothesis are reported as −−−−, those with a 95%<C.I.<99% as −−−, those with a 90%<C.I.<95% as −−, those with a 80%<C.I.<90% as −.

Many binary pairs inhibit C. difficile Table 3. 622 of 989 combinations show inhibition with a confidence interval >80%; 545 of 989 with a C.I.>90%; 507 of 989 with a C.I.>95%; 430 of 989 with a C.I. of >99%. Non-limiting but exemplary binary pairs include those with mean log reduction greater than 0.366, e.g. Allistipes shahii paired with Blautia producta, Clostridium hathaweyi, or Colinsella aerofaciens, or Clostidium mayombei paired with C. innocuum, C. tertium, Colinsella aerofaciens, or any of the other 424 combinations shown in Table 5. Equally important, the CivSim assay describes binary pairs that do not effectively inhibit C. difficile. 188 of 989 combinations promote growth with >80% confidence; 52 of 989 show a lack of inhibition with >90% confidence; 22 of 989 show a lack of inhibition with >95% confidence; 3 of 989, including B. producta combined with Coprococcus catus, Alistipes shahii combined with Dorea formicigenerans, and Eubacterium rectale combined with Roseburia intestinalis, show a lack of inhibition with >99% confidence. 249 of 989 combinations are neutral in the assay, meaning they neither promote nor inhibit C. difficile growth to the limit of measurement.

Ternary combinations with mean log inhibition greater than 0.312 are reported as ++++(>99% confidence interval (C.I.) of the null hypothesis), those with mean log inhibition between 0.221 and 0.312 as +++(95%<C.I.<99%), those with mean log inhibition between 0.171 and 0.221 as ++(90%<C.I.<95%), those with mean log inhibition between 0.113 and 0.171 as + (80%<C.I.<90%), those with mean log inhibition between −0.113 and −0.171 as − (80%<C.I.<90%), those with mean log inhibition between −0.171 and −0.221 as −− (90%<C.I.<95%), those with mean log inhibition between −0.221 and −0.312 as −−− (95%<C.I.<99%), and those with mean log inhibition less than −0.312 as −−−− (99%<C.I.).

The CivSim shows that many ternary combinations inhibit C. difficile. 39 of 56 combinations show inhibition with a confidence interval >80%; 36 of 56 with a C.I.>90%; 36 of 56 with a C.I.>95%; 29 of 56 with a C.I. of >99%. Non-limiting but exemplary ternary combinations include those with mean log reduction greater than 0.171, e.g. any combination shown in Table 4 with a score of ++++, such as Colnsella aerofaciens, Coprococcus comes, and Blautia producta. Equally important, the CivSim assay describes ternary combinations that do not effectively inhibit C. difficile. 5 of 56 combinations promote growth with >80% confidence; 2 of 56 promote growth with >90% confidence; 1 of 56, Coprococcus comes, Clostridium symbiosum and Eubacterium rectale, promote growth with >95% confidence. 12 of 56 combinations are neutral in the assay, meaning they neither promote nor inhibit C. difficile growth to the limit of measurement.

Example P1. Full 16S Sequencing to Determine Operational Taxonomic Unit (OTU) Genomic DNA Extraction

Genomic DNA is extracted from pure microbial cultures using a hot alkaline lysis method. 2 μl of microbial culture is added to 18 μl of Lysis Buffer (25 mM NaOH, 0.2 mM EDTA) and the mixture is incubated at 95° C. for 30 minutes. Subsequently, the samples are cooled to 4° C. and neutralized by the addition of 20 μl of Neutralization Buffer (40 mM Tris-HCl) and then diluted 10-fold in Elution Buffer (10 mM Tris-HCl). Alternatively, genomic DNA is extracted from pure microbial cultures using commercially available kits such as the Mo Bio Ultraclean® Microbial DNA Isolation Kit (Mo Bio Laboratories, Carlsbad, Calif.) or by standard methods known to those skilled in the art.

PCR

To amplify bacterial 16S rDNA, 2 μl of extracted gDNA is added to a 20 μl final volume PCR reaction. The PCR reaction also contains 1× HotMasterMix (5PRIME, Gaithersburg, Md.), 250 nM of 27f primer (AGRGTTTGATCMTGGCTCAG (SEQ ID NO: 1919), IDT, Coralville, Iowa), and 250 nM of 1492r primer (TACGGYTACCTTGTTAYGACTT (SEQ ID NO: 1920), IDT, Coralville, Iowa), with Molecular Biology Grade Water (Mo Bio Laboratories, Carlsbad, Calif.) for the balance of the volume. Alternatively, other universal bacterial primers or thermostable polymerases known to those skilled in the art are used.

The PCR performed on commercially available thermocyclers such as a BioRad MyCycler™ Thermal Cycler (BioRad, Hercules, Calif.). The reactions are run at 94° C. for 2 minutes followed by 30 cycles of 94° C. for 30 seconds, 51° C. for 30 seconds, and 68° C. for 1 minute 30 seconds, followed by a 7 minute extension at 72° C. and an indefinite hold at 4° C. Following PCR, gel electrophoresis of a portion of the reaction products is used to confirm successful amplification of a −1.5 kb product.

PCR Cleanup

To remove nucleotides and oligonucleotides from the PCR products, 1 μl of HT ExoSap-IT (Affymetrix, Santa Clara, Calif.) is added to 2.5 μl of PCR product followed by a 15 minute incubation at 37° C. and then a 15 minute inactivation at 80° C.

Sanger Sequencing

For each sample, two sequencing reactions are performed, one using each primer: 27f and 1492r. 40 ng of ExoSap-IT-cleaned PCR products are mixed with 25 pmol of sequencing primer and Molecular Biology Grade Water (Mo Bio Laboratories, Carlsbad, Calif.) to 15 μl total volume. This reaction is submitted to a commercial sequencing organization such as Genewiz (South Plainfield, N.J.) for Sanger sequencing.

Example P2. V4 16S Sequencing to Determine Operational Taxonomic Unit (OTU)

Genomic DNA Extraction

Genomic DNA is extracted from pure microbial cultures using a hot alkaline lysis method. 2 μl of microbial culture is added to 18 μl of Lysis Buffer (25 mM NaOH, 0.2 mM EDTA) and the mixture is incubated at 95° C. for 30 minutes. Subsequently, the samples are cooled to 4° C. and neutralized by the addition of 18 μl of Neutralization Buffer (40 mM Tris-HCl) and then diluted 10-fold in Elution Buffer (10 mM Tris-HCl). Alternatively, genomic DNA is extracted from pure microbial cultures using commercially available kits such as the Mo Bio Ultraclean® Microbial DNA Isolation Kit (Mo Bio Laboratories, Carlsbad, Calif.) or by standard methods known to those in skilled in the art.

PCR

To amplify the V4 region of bacterial 16S rDNA, 2 μl of extracted gDNA is added to a 20 μl final volume PCR reaction. The PCR reaction also contains 1× HotMasterMix (5PRIME, Gaithersburg, Md.), 200 nM of V4_515f_adapt (AATGATACGGCGACCACCGAGATCTACACTATGGTAATTGTGTGCCAGCMGCCGCG GTAA (SEQ ID NO: 1921), IDT, Coralville, Iowa), and 200 nM of barcoded 806rbc (CAAGCAGAAGACGGCATACGAGAT (SEQ ID NO: 1922)_12bpGolayBarcode_AGTCAGTCAGCCGGACTACHVGGGTWTCTAAT (SEQ ID NO: 1923), IDT, Coralville, Iowa), with Molecular Biology Grade Water (Mo Bio Laboratories, Carlsbad, Calif.) for the balance of the volume. These primers incorporate adapters for Illumina sequencing by synthesis. Optionally, identical replicate, triplicate, or quadruplicate reactions may be performed. Alternatively other universal bacterial primers or thermostable polymerases known to those skilled in the art are used.

The PCR performed on commercially available thermocyclers such as a BioRad MyCycler™ Thermal Cycler (BioRad, Hercules, Calif.). The reactions are run at 94° C. for 3 minutes followed by 25 cycles of 94° C. for 45 seconds, 50° C. for 1 minute, and 72° C. for 1 minute 30 seconds, followed by a 10 minute extension at 72° C. and a indefinite hold at 4° C. Following PCR, gel electrophoresis of a portion of the reaction products is used to confirm successful amplification of a −0.4 kb product.

PCR Cleanup

To remove nucleotides and oligonucleotides from the PCR products, the entire remaining volume of the PCR, or of the multiple PCRs, is cleaned up using the Mo Bio Ultraclean®-htp 96 Well PCR Clean-up Kit (Mo Bio Laboratories, Carlsbad, Calif.) according to the manufacturer's instructions or other commercially available kits such as the QIAquick 96 PCR Purification Kit (QIAGEN, Valencia, Calif.).

DNA Quantification & Pooling

The cleaned PCR products are quantified using the Quant-iT™ PicoGreen® dsDNA Assay Kit (Life Technologies, Grand Island, N.Y.) according to the manufacturer's instructions. Following quantification, the barcoded cleaned PCR products are combined such that each distinct PCR product is at an equimolar ratio to create a prepared Illumina library.

Illumina Sequencing

The prepared library is sequenced on Illumina HiSeq or MiSeq sequencers (Illumina, San Diego, Calif.) with cluster generation, template hybridization, iso-thermal amplification, linearization, blocking and denaturization and hybridization of the sequencing primers performed according to the manufacturer's instructions. 16SV4SeqFw (TATGGTAATTGTGTGCCAGCMGCCGCGGTAA (SEQ ID NO: 1924)), 16SV4SeqRev (AGTCAGTCAGCCGGACTACHVGGGTWTCTAAT (SEQ ID NO: 1923)), and 16SV4Index (ATTAGAWACCCBDGTAGTCCGGCTGACTGACT (SEQ ID NO: 1925)) (IDT, Coralville, Iowa) are used for sequencing. This sequencing can optionally be performed by a contract research organization such as Metanome (Houston, Tex.), Ambry Genetics (Aliso Viejo, Calif.), Edge Bio (Gaithersburg, Md.), or Covance (Princeton, N.J.).

Taxonomic Assignment to Sequence Read Data

Nucleic acid sequences are analyzed and taxonomic and phylogenetic assignments of specific OTUs are made using sequence similarity and phylogenetic methods that are well known to those skilled in the art, including but not limited to maximum likelihood phylogenetic reconstruction (see e.g. Liu K, Linder CR, and Warnow T. 2011. RAxML and FastTree: Comparing Two Methods for Large-Scale Maximum Likelihood Phylogeny Estimation. PLoS ONE 6: e27731. McGuire G, Denham MC, and Balding DJ. 2001. Models of sequence evolution for DNA sequences containing gaps. Mol. Biol. Evol 18: 481-490. Wróbel B. 2008. Statistical measures of uncertainty for branches in phylogenetic trees inferred from molecular sequences by using model-based methods. J. Appl. Genet. 49: 49-67.) From these taxonomic assignments OTUs in the dataset are defined. The certainty of the OTU call is defined based on the OTU's sequence similarity to a reference nucleic acid sequence and the proximity of the OTU sequence relative to one or more reference sequences in the phylogeny. The specificity of an OTU's taxonomic and phlylogenetic assignment determines whether the match is assigned at the level of Family, Genus, Species, or Strain, and the confidence of this assignment is determined based on the position of bootstrap supported branches in the reference phylogenetic tree relative to the placement of the OTU sequence being interrogated.

Example P3. Construction of an In Vitro Assay to Screen for Combinations of Microbes Inhibitory to the Growth of Pathogenic E. coli

The in vitro assay is used to screen for combinations of bacteria inhibitory to the growth of E. coli by modifying the media used for growth of the pathogen inoculum. One of several choices of media is used for growth of the pathogen such as Reinforced Clostridial Media (RCM), Brain Heart Infusion Broth (BHI) or Luria Bertani Broth (LB) (also known as Lysogeny Broth). E. coli is quantified by using alternative selective media specific for E. coli or using qPCR probes specific for the pathogen. For example, aerobic growth on MacConkey lactose medium selects for enteric Gram negatives, including E. coli. qPCR is conducted using probes specific for the shiga toxin of pathogenic E. coli.

Example P4. Construction of an In Vitro Assay to Screen for Combinations of Microbes Inhibitory to the Growth of Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococcus (VRE)

The in vitro assay is used to screen for combinations of bacteria inhibitory to the growth of Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococcus spp. (VRE) by modifying the media used for growth of the pathogen inoculum. Several choices of media are used for growth of the pathogen such as Reinforced Clostridial Media (RCM), Brain Heart Infusion Broth (BHI) or Luria Bertani Broth (LB). VRE is quantified by using alternative selective media specific for VRE or using qPCR probes specific for the pathogen. For example, m-Enterococcus agar containing sodium azide is selective for Enterococcus spp. and a small number of other species. Probes specific to the van genes conferring vancomycin resistance are used in the qPCR.

Example P5. Testing of Bacterial Composition Against Salmonella

The in vitro assay is used to screen for combinations of bacteria inhibitory to the growth of Salmonella spp. by modifying the media used for growth of the pathogen inoculum. Several choices of media are used for growth of the pathogen such as Reinforced Clostridial Media (RCM), Brain Heart Infusion Broth (BHI) or Luria Bertani Broth (LB). Salmonella spp. are quantified by using alternative selective media specific for Salmonella spp. or using qPCR probes specific for the pathogen. For example, MacConkey agar is used to select for Salmonella spp. and the invA gene is targeted with qPCR probes; this gene encodes an invasion protein carried by many pathogenic Salmonella spp. and is used in invading eukaryotic cells.

Example P6. Method of Preparing the Bacterial Composition for Administration to a Subject

Two strains for the bacterial composition are independently cultured and mixed together before administration. Both strains are independently be grown at 37° C., pH 7, in a GMM or other animal-products-free medium, pre-reduced with 1 g/L cysteineDHCl. After each strain reaches a sufficient biomass, it is preserved for banking by adding 15% glycerol and then frozen at −80° C. in 1 ml cryotubes.

Each strain is then be cultivated to a concentration of 10¹⁰ CFU/mL, then concentrated 20-fold by tangential flow microfiltration; the spent medium is exchanged by diafiltering with a preservative medium consisting of 2% gelatin, 100 mM trehalose, and 10 mM sodium phosphate buffer, or other suitable preservative medium. The suspension is freeze-dried to a powder and titrated.

After drying, the powder is blended with microcrystalline cellulose and magnesium stearate and formulated into a 250 mg gelatin capsule containing 10 mg of lyophilized powder (10⁸ to 10¹¹ bacteria), 160 mg microcrystalline cellulose, 77.5 mg gelatin, and 2.5 mg magnesium stearate.

Example P7. Method of Treating a Subject with a Bacterial Composition

A patient has suffered from recurrent bouts of C. difficile. In the most recent acute phase of illness, the patient is treated with an antibiotic sufficient to ameliorate the symptoms of the illness. In order to prevent another relapse of C. difficile, the patient is administered one of the present bacterial compositions. Specifically, the patient is administered Bacillus circulans and Roseburia inulinivorans at a dose of 10⁸ bacteria total in a lyophilized form, specifically in a 250 mg gelatin capsule containing 10 mg of lyophilized bacteria, 160 mg microcrystalline cellulose, 77.5 mg gelatin, and 2.5 mg magnesium stearate. The patient takes the capsule by mouth and resumes a normal diet after 4, 8, 12, or 24 hours. In another embodiment, the patient may take the capsule by mouth before, during, or immediately after a meal.

Feces is collected before and at 1 day, 3 days, 1 week, and 1 month after administration. The presence of C. difficile is found in the feces before administration of the bacterial composition, but feces collections after administration show reducing (such as at least 50% less, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, or 95%) to no detectable levels of C. difficile, as measured by qPCR, as described above. ELISA for toxin protein or traditional microbiological identification techniques may also be used.

As another measure of patient success, a positive response may be defined as absence of diarrhea, which itself is defined as 3 or more loose or watery stools per day for at least 2 consecutive days or 8 or more loose or watery stools in 48 hours, or persisting diarrhea (due to other causes) with repeating (three times) negative stool tests for toxins of C. difficile.

Treatment failure is defined as persisting diarrhea with a positive C. difficile toxin stool test or no reduction in levels of C. difficile, as measured by qPCR sequencing. ELISA or traditional microbiological identification techniques may also be used.

Example P8. Method of Treating a Subject with a Bacterial Composition

A patient has suffered from recurrent bouts of C. difficile. In the most recent acute phase of illness, the patient is treated with an antibiotic sufficient to ameliorate the symptoms of the illness. In order to prevent another relapse of C. difficile, the patient is administered one of the present bacterial compositions. Specifically, the patient is administered a bacterial composition containing two bacterial types from Table 1 or SEQ ID NOs. 1-1,864, or a combination from Table 2, at a dose of 10⁸ bacteria total in a lyophilized form formulated in an enteric coated capsule. Example of the patient or samples derived from the patient is expected to demonstrate at least one measure of success as described herein (reducing levels of C. difficile as measured by qPCR, ELISA, or traditional microbiological identification; absence of diarrhea; persisting diarrhea with repeating (three times) negative stool tests for toxins of C. difficile.

Other embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the embodiments. Consider the specification and examples as exemplary only, with a true scope and spirit being indicated by the following claims.

Lengthy table referenced here US20210169947A1-20210610-T00001 Please refer to the end of the specification for access instructions.

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LENGTHY TABLES The patent application contains a lengthy table section. A copy of the table is available in electronic form from the USPTO web site (https://seqdata.uspto.gov/?pageRequest=docDetail&DocID=US20210169947A1). An electronic copy of the table will also be available from the USPTO upon request and payment of the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.19(b)(3). 

1. A composition comprising a first species of isolated bacterium and a second species of isolated bacterium, wherein the first species and the second species are not identical, and wherein the first species and the second species independently comprise a 16S rDNA sequence that is at least 97% identical to a 16S rDNA sequence present in a reference bacterium selected from Table 3 with the proviso that (i) if the first species is Clostridium innocuum, then the second species is not Clostridium orbiscindens, or (ii) if the first species is Clostridium orbiscindens, then the second species is not Clostridium innocuum, and wherein the first species and the second species are capable of inhibiting Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) growth as measured by a CivSim assay.
 2. The composition of claim 1, which further comprises an enteric coating.
 3. The composition of claim 1, wherein the first species and the second species are capable of inhibiting C. difficile growth in the CivSim assay with a confidence interval of >99% (++++).
 4. The composition of claim 1, wherein the first species and the second species comprise a combination of bacteria selected from Table
 5. 5. The composition of claim 1, wherein the first species, the second species, or both are capable of forming a spore.
 6. The composition of claim 1, wherein the first species, the second species, or both are in the form of spores.
 7. The composition of claim 1, which is formulated for populating the gastrointestinal tract of the subject.
 8. The composition of claim 1, wherein the first species, the second species, or both are lyophilized.
 9. A method of treating or preventing recurrence of Clostridium difficile infection in a subject in need thereof, comprising administering the composition of claim 1 to the subject.
 10. A method of treating a dysbiosis in a subject in need thereof, comprising administering the composition of claim 1 to the subject.
 11. A single dose unit comprising a first species of isolated bacterium and a second species of isolated bacterium, wherein the first species and the second species are capable of inhibiting Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) growth as measured by a CivSim assay and/or populating the gastrointestinal tract of a subject, and wherein (i) if the first species is Clostridium innocuum, then the second species is not Clostridium orbiscindens, or (ii) if the first species is Clostridium orbiscindens, then the second species is not Clostridium innocuum.
 12. A kit comprising in one or more containers the composition of claim
 1. 13. A pharmaceutical formulation comprising the composition of claim
 1. 14. The pharmaceutical formulation of claim 13, further comprising an additional agent.
 15. The pharmaceutical formulation of claim 14, wherein the additional agent is selected from an anti-bacterial agent, anti-fungal agent, anti-viral agent, anti-parasitic agent, or combinations thereof.
 16. A method of producing a bacterial composition, comprising combining a first species of isolated bacterium and a second species of isolated bacterium, wherein the first species and the second species are not identical, wherein the first species and the second species are capable of inhibiting Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) growth and/or populating the gastrointestinal tract of a subject, and wherein (i) if the first species is Clostridium innocuum, then the second species is not Clostridium orbiscindens, or (ii) if the first species is Clostridium orbiscindens, then the second species is not Clostridium innocuum.
 17. The method of claim 16, wherein the first species and the second species are lyophilized. 